Eritrea: A dream deferred

Abstract

Eritrean independence under the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (now the People's Front for Democracy and Justice) became an international cause celebre during the 1980s. Eritrea was the first African national to gain independence in the post-colonial period and appeared to be opening a new and progressive path in African politics. but the promise of the revolution was soon betrayed by the outbreak of war with Ethiopia, the PFDJ's increasingly repressive domestic policies, its mismanagement of the country's economy, and its hostile relations with its neighbours. The PFDJ government dismantled existing formal and informal institutions, crippled the private sector, banned private newspapers, civil and political society organisations, expelled international NGOs and aid agencies when over tow-thirds of the population were dependent on food aid, detained without trial journalist, thousands of dissidents, and former leaders of the liberation struggle, and turned national service...