You might hate him, you might love him. You might be clear or confused. You might recognize him, you might not. You might care or not care. But in any case, all you can really say is: what a leader.
Imagine you had the opportunity to go on internationally broadcasted news and say what you want to say about Western hypocrisy? About crippling aid dependence. About self-reliance for domestic and sustainable food security? About U.S. intervention. Isaias Afewerki, Eritrea’s PFDJ strongman is saying and doing things his way. And he’s speaking for more Africans than you think. He doesn’t do sugar-coated diplomacy. He says with a Devil May Care attitude what’s on most people’s minds regarding the problems of today’s Africa. Tonight I watched an interview on Al-Jazeera – Andrew Simmons and Isaias Afewerki. It was the ultimate encounter! The family room, filled with guests, hushed. People came in, we nodded our heads in acknowledgement and shushhed them, lest we miss a nanosecond of this interaction. It was filled with both silent and spoken resistance from either side, interviewer and interviewee. The phone rang and we silenced the ringer. We were entranced. Some people clapped after a few key phrases the President likes to repeat such as Leave Us Alone. The body language during the interview made it all the more intense: stiff necks, defensive posture, sturdy gazes, dismissive gestures. For many of us, it was the first time in a very long time (especially since EriTV left us…) that we could hear straight from the horse’s mouth. Isaias Afewerki is talking. Finally.
So what did he say? Here’s a portion from Al-Jazeera.
He is an anti-interventionist in Sudan. An anti-interventionist in Somalia. A supporter of Sudanese faction groups looking for a way toward a more united Sudan. A proponent of AU objectives for peacekeeping missions. (He repeated, for what? what would be the purpose?) An advocate, in a very unpretentious way, of regional cooperation for peacebuilding and economic development. (He noted that the absence of a regional organization for peacekeeping does not justify external intervention.)
He’s strong and brilliant – unphased by Western perceptions of Eritrea. The question Eritreans are trying to ask themselves now is – too strong, too brilliant? What is the real cost of this style of leadership? I think what Afewerki is saying is let’s change our attitude about costs. Let’s determine our own costs without looking at the outside and letting the famous acronyms (UN, WB, IMF, ILO, WTO…) do the math for us as Eritreans, as Africans. The only response to Afewerki, like he himself said during the interview about Ethiopians supposedly getting out of Somalia is: time will tell. So shall history take its course.
It’s back to the drawing board for Afewerki regarding the long road to the intangible oasis called “development”. (The chalk is a special import from Cuba, Singapore, North Korea, China?) Read this article for more information on China-Eritrea relations.
A critic can ask: What pre-integrated/pre-globalized/pre-human rights world might he be living in? And the horse will surely respond: Eritrea.
January 25, 2007 at 3:18 am
I agree with you that it is refreshing to see a leader who speaks his mind and tells it as it is. But the strange thing is that most “statesmen” do not speak truth or their mind in interviews unless they are in the position of power or there is a benefit from talking in that way.
As an Eritrean, I have appreciate what he has done for the country but I believe to classify him a leader for stating obvious or tell us about socio-political conditions or situations of the globe does not help the Eritrean economy or build a future for its people..
I believe great leaders know and do their best to give their people what they “need”. I just do not see Eritrea heading in the direction of institutional development, constitution, law, international diplomacy etc.. we are becoming more isolated, ignored via mugabe. I think after 30 years, we know the heavy weights of international communities do not care about eritrean people let a lone what its leader thinks or believes. We are heading in the direction of Kadafi’s Libya without oil and with an unfriendly giant to the south.
Again, I just don’t think we should measure the greatest of leader by his lucid observation of geo-politics but how well he or she plays with card they are dealt..
Sorry for long response…
January 25, 2007 at 9:59 am
Maybe what’s missing from international affairs is the statement of the clear and the obvious? Yes, it’s idealistic but over and over we see the capacity of African leadership/intelligentsia (not always the same group) weakened via compliance with unnecessary arm-twisting diplomatic conventions; hefty bank loan/dev’t agreements; international conventions that are impossible to achieve in the allotted timeframe; uncritical or reluctant acceptance of current political-economic realities. Where to go from such illusions?
I am not a blind supporter of Isaias’ leadership. I know there are many problems which are natural and endemic to government. I know we need institutions that work, but, who doesn’t? Isaias and his crew know this too. They know there is a lot to be done. And it’s not only the hard-core ‘truth tellers’ like him, Mugabe, Castro, etc. who state the obvious it is also the World Bank and other international institutions. Good governance? Everyone knows this is necessary and important in Africa, as anywhere, but the question is the process to go about doing that…how do you cultivate good governance? It doesn’t come through adopting a framework or convention, that’s for sure. Theres that 5 million dollar incentive from the Sudanese business man too but who knows if money will help. People like Isaias don’t want to be bullied – and after fighting 30 years in the bushes without external assistance, can we really blame them? It’s unnatural.
I am sympathetic to the obstacles facing this government because I think being in any government is hard work. The institutions bind your actions to the point that intentions are almost unrecognizable…and it happens with every government. Governments, especially poor ones, are overwhelmed by the demand for service provision. Everyone says this and that would be better in government but we don’t know until we’re there. And even when we go to the market to deliver goods and services, the government needs to act as facilitator of this process. If we don’t have the institutions or human resources to faciliate…?
Then again, I don’t believe in blind support either. Being critical is a great way to participate and keep the government on it’s toes. We should let the information and raw evidence speak for itself.
Yes roads are being built but at what cost to human development? Serious problems we need solutions to as Eritreans involved (or those of us aspiring to be more involved) in nation-building.
Thanks for the comment.