Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki calls the country’s development drive over two decades of independence “a success story.”
“We have achieved a lot, and our culture has helped us a lot to create an environment for sustainable development,” he told VOA in an exclusive interview ahead of the 21 anniversary of his country’s independence on May 24.
“Our main objective for the last 21 years was to create an environment for real independence… We have put the flag we took 21 years ago on a very solid ground,” said Isaias. The major achievement, he emphasized, was the creation of a “solid foundation” for Eritrea’s development.
Speaking from the presidential palace in Eritrea’s capital, Asmara, Mr. Isaias said his country was faced with what he called “subjective internal and external challenges” shortly after gaining independence. He said the country’s leadership had to struggle to meet public demands for development after decades of protracted fighting. Among the top tasks were ensuring food security, building up destroyed infrastructure, as well as providing safe drinking water and improved transportation.
The real challenge, he said, was resources: “You may aspire to achieve some goals, but definitely you need some resources to do that” he said, adding, “that was really serious for us.”
“The external challenge was so many problems – regional, international problems even in terms of implementing programs. The disparity of our approach to addressing issues, for example, do we go for [foreign] aid to build our economy and build a capacity for sustainable growth, or find our own ways of doing that... [this], in spite of the security challenge we have faced over the last 15 or so years, which has been a learning experience for us.”
Eritrea’s economy has grown, despite poor relations with Ethiopia, once a primary trading partner. The International Monetary Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook predicted Eritrea’s GDP to grow over seven percent this year.
Health care has also improved. says Eritrea is one of four African countries likely to reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters by 2015.
For government supporters, this is evidence that the administration has been able to meet the needs of its citizens, including improved infrastructure, food security, and transportation, without any foreign “handouts.” President Isaias said with improved capacity building, the country is working to break what he called the cycle of over-dependence on aid.
has received modest amounts of financial support from China, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Qatar and until the overthrow of Muammar Gadhafi, Libya.
HRW says Asmara continues to accept UN funding for health, sanitation and safe-water projects, though it has ended its relationship with the World Bank.
notes that the Eritrean government requested an end to bilateral assistance from the U.S. However, it notes U.S. interests include encouraging Eritrea to contribute to regional stability, and to develop a democratic political culture and promote economic reform.
Critics say the ideals that galvanized Eritreans to fight for their freedom, which ultimately led to the country’s independence 21 years ago, are yet to be realized.
Last year, “a repressive regime [that] fails to provide data on the humanitarian needs of its own people.” He called on the government to cooperate with the UN agencies and other international organizations to address hunger.
Human Rights Watch says in 2009, Isaias told the UN Children’s fund that Eritrea was suffering from famine though the government officially denied food shortages.
But Isaias disagrees with these criticisms.
“This is an insult to my intelligence. I am a product of the process I lived, and I have developed my own thinking in these practical processes in that environment…These are stereotypes for people who live in the unreal world who think other people don’t have heads and don’t think. They categorize people in groups,” he said.
He said the experience and values Eritreans have shared over the years binds citizens together.
Observers say the suspension of Eritrea’s constitution thwarted the country’s march towards democracy. The document, which was introduced 15 years ago and ratified in 2002, has not been fully implemented. The president exercises legislative as well as executive powers.
President Isaias attributed the suspension of the constitution to what he calls external interference. He also stated that embracing the “so-called” tenets of democracy is not a priority of Eritrea. He said development is the government’s priority, not democracy.