Abstract
The paper discusses various dimensions of a complex situation arising out of the conflictbetween the media and the state, and the raging conflict between the general perception ofdemocracy and the Eritrean government’s perception of it. This is within the context of a fastdeveloping global village of which all African states will be members one day. Eritrea, thoughliberated in 1991 from Ethiopian rule, shares many characteristics of other dictatorial regimesin the neighboring countries. The state-run electronic and print media, centralized economy,lack of a parliamentary election process, independent judiciary, and suppression of fundamentalrights, especially the freedom of expression, mark the dictatorial character of the regime inEritrea in contrast to the accepted conventions of democracy in the West. The Eritreangovernment promotes a democratic model in which democratization is sought through education.Achieving democratization is limited to holding regular elections to local bodies at grass-rootlevel. By the Government’s not holding elections to its Parliament, the present policies ofgovernance have not only turned deviant from its own once highly avowed and publicizedmacro-policy and the Constitution, but also have become vulnerable to mounting criticism. Thepresent study, supported by a survey of the opinion of a random sample of people via mobile aswell as Internet channels by means of open-ended questions, offers a snapshot of the growingdesire of the people for full implementation of the Constitution, a liberalized economy and thefree media, which their counterparts enjoy in many European countries.
Highlights
Eritrea is one of the tiny countries in what is called the 'horn of Africa’ and one of the sub-Saharan countries
From the above analysis and discussion based on the responses of the Eritrean youth and adults, together with those of anonymous officials in media and government, it is clear that there is a growing desire to be globalized and be at par with the nearby nations of Europe
Though many applaud Afwerki for his valor, leadership and courage in waging a battle against the powerful Ethiopian regime backed by the USSR, there is a feeling that he did not live up to the promises he made to the National Constituent Assembly before being elected as a temporary head of state
Summary
Eritrea is one of the tiny countries in what is called the 'horn of Africa’ and one of the sub-Saharan countries. Eritrea became an independent country on May 24, 1993, only a decade and a half after a protracted armed struggle lasting over 30 years against the federal rule of the state of Ethiopia (Roy, 1990; Cliffe & Davidson, 1988) It is situated on the most north eastern border of Africa, adjoining the Red Sea. Its population is about 5 million people distributed across a vast expanse of what is known geographically as a most uneven terrain.
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