Hope, mixture of mistrust as the Eritrean diaspora watches Ethiopia thaw



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TEL AVIV, ISRAEL –

The sudden thaw between long-time enemies Eritrea and Ethiopia open up a world of opportunity for residents of neighboring countries: new economic and diplomatic relations, links telephone and transport and end of

But nascent peace raises new questions for the Eritrean diaspora, tens of thousands of people who have fled the grip of their government, the rigid system of compulsory military conscription and endemic poverty.

Now, they are cautiously waiting to see how the truce will shape their homeland and perhaps offer them a chance to come back.

"I want to go to my country," said Salamwit Willedo, a 29-year-old Eritrean living in Israel. "Everywhere I am a refugee, but my country is my homeland, I feel at home there, so I hope that (peace) will come."

  DOSSIER - Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed are walking together at the Asmara International Airport, Eritrea, on July 9, 2018.

DOSSIER – Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed walk together to the l '. Asmara International Airport, Eritrea July 9, 2018.

Suddenly, Peace

Tiny Eritrea, with 5 million people, 1993 after years of rebel war. He has been ruled by President Isaias Afwerki since then and has become one of the most reclusive nations in the world. The state of war with Ethiopia has kept the country of the Red Sea in a state of constant military readiness, with a hard and indefinite conscription system that has drawn criticism from advocacy groups and sent thousands of people in Europe, Israel and other African countries. The arch-enemies of the Horn of Africa led a bloody border war from 1998 to 2000 that left tens of thousands dead and separated families. But the antagonism abruptly died out last month when reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that Ethiopia was fully accepting a peace agreement signed in 2000 that would put controversial border areas back on the ground. ; Eritrea.

Hostility between nations has faded considerably. The leaders traveled to the respective countries for jubilant receptions, diplomatic and other links were reestablished and the flagship Ethiopian Airlines resumed its flights to Eritrea this week.

The adoption of the peace agreement by Ethiopia away from years of anti-government protests demanding broader freedoms in the second most populous nation of Africa. Africa, with more than 100 million people. Now, eyes are on Eritrea and peace could prompt him to relax and abandon his long defensive stance.

Divided Opinions of the Diaspora

"Hate, discrimination and conspiracy are now over. The Eritrean leader said this week to cheers and people chanting his name on his first visit to Ethiopia in 22 years.

While the diaspora is divided into supporters and critics of the government, many Eritreans abroad are skeptical the current government remains in power.

"I think that this will not bring any solution to the interior of the country, because we still have thousands of prisoners in the country, we do not have a constitution, we do not have any. We have no internal peace, "said Bluts Iybadu, who came to Tel Aviv in 2010 and is a member of United Eritreans for Justice, a group of Eritrean expatriates who work to promote democracy in their homeland. origin.

  FILE - Eritrean migrants crying during a memorial to collect Zarhum died from his injuries after an Israeli security guard shot him and he was then beaten by a crowd who mistakenly believed that he was a Palestinian badailant during a shootout in northwestern Iraq. The southern city of Beersheba

DOSSIER – Eritrean migrants mourn at a memorial rally for Habtom Zarhum, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 21, 2015. Zarhum died from his injuries after a guard Israeli security fired at him and was beaten by a crowd who mistakenly believed that he was a Palestinian attacker during a shootout in the southern city of Beersheba.

Israel has become a destination of choice for Eritreans fleeing and has about 26,000 people. Most live in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the south of Tel Aviv and hold low-level jobs in restaurants or hotels.

While many say that their lives are better than in Eritrea, they have not received a warm welcome in Israel. the influx of migrants from Eritrea and Sudan.

Israel regards migrants as jobseekers who threaten the Jewish character of the state. He arrested migrants and sent them to third countries to reduce their numbers.

Rights groups say that Israel can use reconciliation between Eritrea and Ethiopia to encourage migrants to leave.

Range of Emotions

For the estimated 170,000 Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers living in Ethiopia, short-term peace means a new ability to communicate by telephone with their loved ones remained in the country.

I put my joy in words. I've already spoken to my sisters in (the port city of) Mbadawa since the phone line has been restored, "said Alemnesh Woldegiorgis, 64, an Eritrean living in Ethiopia.He said he hoping to get a pbadport to visit a family that he had not seen for 20 years.

In Germany, where nearly 70,000 Eritreans settled, most are refugees who came to the country German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees

Hintsa Amine lives with other Eritreans in temporary migrant housing near the former Berlin airport. years ago arrived in Germany a year and a half ago, and although he supports the peace agreement, he said that he had not changed his plans because he still did not feel safe in his home country

I want to stay here in Al Germany, "he said.

For Mohammed Lumumba Ibrahim, 61, who has been living in Germany for 45 years, the truce sparked the hope that he could take his children to see his homeland. "I'd like to go with the whole family, but I have to make sure that we have peace, that there is no war so that I can take my children and their children." to show their homeland, "he said.