
The former finance minister of Eritrea, Berhane Aberhe died on the 20th August 2024 in prison. As he awaited trial and sentencing for that matter. He lingered in detention and in jail for over years. He was arrested on the 17th September 2018.
The former Minister released the critical book called “Eritrea My Country” in January of 2018. That book challenged the PFDJ, HIGDEF and PIA. They were all in thorns and couldn’t accept the message.
The Former Minister even dared to say that the President of Life, the tyrant of the Republic that he should resign and be detained at Arat Kilo immediately. Also, telling the PFDJ to lay down their tool and let a Political Power Transfer Coordinating Committee takes the reigns for a short amount of time. Just enough time to install and instil democracy again. After the recent regime haven’t had either and the President had consolidated all powers of the nation.
That is really a message that isn’t regular in Asmara. The President Afwerki isn’t used to this sort of criticism. As he is the demigod and the man above them all. His the guy that was able to gain control and never let it go. That’s who he is and he has ensured that every single mechanism, institution or such that is in his way – suddenly goes away or is silenced.
That’s why journalists, former central committee members of the EPLF and the former ones of the EPLF Politburo are either missing or behind bars. The ones who used know or have any say is either not there. The same with other important members of the PFDJ who is behind bars or in detention as well. They are all there… so they cannot challenge the President and his reign.
That’s why Berhane was behind bars from 17th September 2018 to 20th August 2024 without a trial, sentencing or anything of that matter. He was behind bars 2164 days without any charge or justification. Just a man who dared to speak out and release a book with his ideas.
All of those ideas aren’t maybe that useful or that insightful. Regardless of that, he had knowledge and was a prior insider. A man that was entrusted with offices and was even sent to speak for the nation at the United Nations in 2005. Therefore, he was a man that the President once saw fit.
We saw the fall out and the feud. The ones who goes after PIA are losing. He dared to challenge the President and telling him that he should be a felon. The former Minister told His Excellency that he deserved to be in prison and be detained. That’s what he did and that takes courage. Especially, when dissent and opposition isn’t allowed in the nation.
Berhane Aberhe was even brave enough to say it was a “mistake” to anoint and appoint Afwerki as the head. He called it a mistake to let him take over the party and give him the throne. Because, the party and the liberation front shouldn’t have done so. They thought they only did it for an interim period, but Afwerki always found “excuses” for not holding elections or creating representative democracy in the nation. As there was “wars” or even outside forces creating dangerous precedence, which made it impossible to hold these sorts of things. That’s what Aberhe saw and stated.
The writings of Berhane Aberhe was his final utterances. He dared to challenge Isaias Afwerki. A man who uses the state and the bondage of law against others. The man who has all the instruments of the state at his disposal and no one can keep him accountable. That man he faced heads on and he paid a price.
The price was his life. His family was touched too. His wife was detained and reported also a son was taken into custody. I don’t know their status or how they are living at the moment. However, I wouldn’t be hopeful. When they treat him like this and they want to send a message.
They could easily touch the rest and ensure their demise. As the President doesn’t accept any dissidents whatsoever. Peace.










