Isaias Afewerki

1
Isaias Afewerki
Straw That Broke the Afar Camels Back(Eritrea)!
2

• Tribe of aboriginal nomadic people who inhabit 3
  corners of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti
• Population in all countries 3-5 million
• 90 nomadic
• 94 illiterate
• 45 year life expectancy
• Distinct Language and Culture

3
AFAR IN ERITREA

• Population 10-15
• Land mass 40
• Coastal area from Massawa to Rahaito 700 KM

4
THE IMPACT OF THE AFEWERKI REGIME ON AFAR
5

• Violating basic human rights of Afar people
• Dispossession of their land and properties
• Violating Rights to Trade, Fish, Salt Mine
• Prevent Development and Foreign Aid
• Destroying Culture , Language and History
• Violating freedom of movement/mobility

6
THE AFTERMATH OF THESE BRUTAL AGRESSIONS
7

• Killing Hundreds defenceless Afar
• Kidnapping and Torture of Innocent Afar
• Hundreds are missing , Incommunicado for many
• years
• Prisoners are held in atrocious conditions
• damp underground cells,
• sweltering shipping containers,
• secret security prisons.

8
Refugee Crisis

• Expelling, Imprisonment of Afar
• intellectuals who dare to speak
• Refugee crisis hitting historic levels
• (100,000 approx.)
• In Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan and
• Yemen
• Starving the Afar beyond their
• capability

9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
WHAT ARE THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE AFAR PEOPLE?
12

• Recognition of their inherent property rights
• Self-subsistence and self-determination
• The right to benefit from their land, sea and
  resources by way of trade, fishing, salt mining
  and animal husbandry.
• Freedom of movement within the Afar land
• Release of innocent Afar prisoners
• Promoting Afar Culture, History, Language
• The right to education

13

• The right to determine their relationships with
  neighbours in a spirit of coexistence, mutual
  benefit and full respect.
• To have a say in any project affecting their
  lands or territories and other resources,
  particularly in connection with the
  development, utilization or exploitation of their
  mineral, water or other resources.
• The right to enjoy a peaceful existence.