Habte Bokretsion

[Jonathan 🇪🇷 @itsEritrea]

Miss world Eritrea 2026 🇪🇷 Snit Habteab took the stage for the head to head challenge to share her inspiring speech, projects and personal journeys with the world.

"I carry this hidden gem of Red Sea to miss world 2026" Snit

Well done Snit, entire Eritrea is behind you!!

[Ministry of Information, Eritrea @shabait]

Grounded in History, Driven by Tech: A Diaspora Scholar’s Mission for Eritrea
By: Kidane Shimendi

Eritrean nationals living in the diaspora never stop dreaming of and contributing toward building a prosperous homeland. Ms. Yolian Ogbu is among the vibrant Eritrean youth in the diaspora tirelessly working to place Eritrean history in its rightful context and showcase the country’s rich heritage and development trajectory across the globe, particularly in the West.
Recently, she visited Eritrea to conduct field research for her PhD, focusing on Eritrea’s developmental strategy through the lens of rural solar energy projects. Eritrea Profile sat down with her for an inspiring interview about her academic journey, her advocacy, and her research.

Could you please begin by introducing yourself and sharing a bit about your background?

I grew up in the United States, raised by patriotic parents who were deeply involved in the diaspora community and actively participated in national commemorations such as Martyrs’ Day, Independence Day, and September 1st—the anniversary of the start of the armed struggle. Growing up celebrating these milestones anchored me in my Eritrean identity. I credit my parents for instilling in me the core Eritrean values and norms that continue to shape my personal vision and life goals.

While pursuing my studies in the U.S., I developed a deep passion for political science and history. I actively participated in educational competitions, debate teams, and public speaking to refine my communication skills, initially aiming to pursue a career in law. Throughout my academic journey, I constantly thought about returning to Eritrea to conduct research that would highlight the country’s true history, identity, and achievements. That drive was fueled by seeing how mainstream Western media outlets frequently disseminated misinformation about Eritrea. Studying political science and history became my way of understanding global dynamics and presenting the true image of Eritrean identity to the world.

What concrete steps have you taken so far to fulfill this personal mission?

To advance this mission, I have organized numerous educational seminars on Eritrean history, covering the period from the colonial era to the post-independence period. I also had the privilege of joining the Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the United Nations in New York, where I served as a delegate representing Eritrea at the Commission on the Status of Women for two sessions. During those sessions, I delivered speeches highlighting gender equality in Eritrea and how it was fundamentally advanced through the armed struggle. Working alongside Ambassador Sophia Tesfamariam and other experienced diplomats provided me with invaluable experience, expanding my understanding of international relations and building my confidence to engage and politically awaken young Eritreans in the diaspora.

Beyond my work with the Eritrean delegation, I engaged in broader African and global political forums through the UN platform. I traveled to Brazil as a civil society representative working with the Commission for Social Development. I traveled to Angola to conduct workshops for African and diaspora youth focusing on national development and the economic exploitation of African resources. As a political science scholar, my focus centers on addressing inequities in the international system and confronting corporate exploitation across the African continent. Fulfilling my mission for Eritrea goes hand in hand with encouraging fellow African youth to build political consciousness and pursue sovereign progress.

To counter misinformation campaigns, I regularly write articles and reports, participate in television and radio interviews, and deliver presentations to audiences comprising Western observers and the African diaspora. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD in Anthropology at the University of Chicago, where my doctoral research focuses on energy infrastructure in Eritrea.

What core values or historical legacies inspire you as you confront misinformation and engage in advocacy?

The history of the armed struggle for independence has been a profound source of inspiration for me since childhood. The immense sacrifices paid for national liberation, the resilience demonstrated against all odds, the resistance to colonial aggression, and the deep spirit of comradeship are memories I hold close to my heart. They drive my commitment to combating misinformation and raising political consciousness among diaspora youth and fellow Africans.

Above all, the national ethos of “Never Kneel” inspires my work. Looking through Eritrean history, you quickly recognize the power of the core values forged during the struggle: unity in diversity, resilience, determination, sacrifice, self-reliance, and religious harmony. These values were the ultimate assets of the Eritrean people during the struggle for self-determination, and they remain the driving force behind the nation’s contemporary development programs.

Tell us about your current PhD research thesis.

My research focuses on Eritrea’s national development strategy through the framework of renewable energy projects, specifically solar energy. The central objective is to explore and document Eritrea’s unique, sovereign development model as a valuable case study for the African continent.

While many development strategies across Africa remain heavily reliant on external aid or influenced by former colonial powers—often contributing to economic vulnerability— Eritrea pursues a sovereign, self-determined model. It prioritizes rural development and basic social services. When traveling across the country, the equitable distribution of essential services—such as education, clean water, healthcare clinics, transport, and energy supplies in rural communities—is clearly visible. Rather than relying entirely on foreign aid or external experts, these initiatives are planned and executed using local capacity, skills, and strategies.

Self-reliance is the bedrock of this model. It is an approach forged during the liberation struggle that continues to guide the nation-building process today. Unlike policy frameworks imposed from the outside, self-reliance in Eritrea is a culturally embedded practice. It is even reflected in long-standing Tigrinya proverbs, such as “The one who relies on others wears out like a shoe” or “Begging turns a person into an ape,” demonstrating how autonomy is woven into the national identity.

I specifically chose solar energy for my field study to examine how Eritrea is deploying clean energy technology in rural areas as part of its national strategy. As climate change and sustainable energy become central global topics, sharing Eritrea’s practical experiences in local energy management offers meaningful insights for economic independence across Africa.

Finally, what message would you like to share with Eritrean youth at home and in the diaspora?

Let us stay conscious, organized, and equipped!

One of the most powerful principles from our history is summed up in the spirit of “Never Kneel” and the classic adage, “The dogs may bark, but the camel continues its march.” In a rapidly changing global landscape, we—especially the youth—must remain grounded in our history and continually build our political consciousness. It was national consciousness and unity that secured victory in the struggle for independence against incredible odds, and it is that same strength that will enable us to build the prosperous nation we envision.

Ms. Yolian, thank you for sharing your time and insights with us, and we wish you continuous success in your academic and professional endeavors.

[George @george_posts]

🇪🇷🇪🇹
Let me repeat: once #Eritrea🇪🇷 fully opens its diplomatic, political, and economic doors to international investors, its ports and projects will quickly attract development and leasing deals from both #Western 🇺🇸🇪🇺and #BRICS nations, alongside #Eritrean🇪🇷 enterprises.
Such progress would eliminate any #Ethiopian leader’s — like this boy-king @AbiyAhmedAli — ambition or claim over the Port of #Assab or its borders. #Eritreans could then focus on building their nation rather than constantly defending it. What #Eritrea🇪🇷 needs is balance — a strong military and a dynamic, open economy — the latter has long been missing. 🤷‍♂️

[G. Drar @gdrarr]

🚨 Abiy’s Web of Lies Unraveling — Exposed by U.S. Statement 🇪🇹❌🇪🇷

💬 “You can fool some people some of the time, but you can’t fool everyone all the time.” — Old African Proverb

Abiy Ahmed’s year-long propaganda that the U.S., Europe, or Russia support his reckless Red Sea adventurism has been shattered. The latest U.S. statement from Addis Ababa is crystal clear: Tone down, respect international law, and seek peace.

📌 Lies Abiy Sold to the World 🌍

🟥 Fake MoU ➝ Claimed Ethiopia “gained sea access, Praise the Lord” → a baseless fantasy.
🟥 Fano Suppression Fantasy➝ Promised to crush Fano in 3 weeks. Two years later, Fano is stronger than ever.
🟥 Eritrean Coast Myth: Blamed Eritrea for “denying access” ➝ in reality, Eritrea rejected his delusional naval base request.
🟥 U.S. & West Support Myth➝ Lied that US/UK backed his sea adventurism ➝ but U.S. & U.K. told him: Respect law, seek commercial access like Djibouti & Kenya.

🌍 Hard Truth Abiy Must Face:

✔️ The world is not a jungle — international law decides, not Abiy’s fantasies.
✔️ If Ethiopia has a claim — see you in The Hague, not on TV.
✔️ Eritrea won’t play Abiy’s cheap scapegoating games.

⚠️ A Word to Abiy & His Generals

👉 Eritrea knows you better than you know yourself.
👉 Your house of cards is collapsing — don’t drag neighbors into your fall.
👉 If you’re in a hole — stop digging.

🌅 “History repeats itself — first as tragedy, then as farce.” – Karl Marx
Abiy’s delusion is both.

📝 Final Advice to Abiy:
🔨 “When you are in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.”

#Eritrea #Ethiopia #HornOfAfrica #RedSea #Amhara #Tigray #Egypt #Somalia #Geopolitics #US #TruthMatters #StopTheLies

[ሃገራዊ ድሕነት @hagerawiDihnet]

መንግስቲ ምቅዋምን ምድጋፍን ናይ ኩሉ መሰል እዩ፡ እንተ ሰራዊት ግና ዘይስገር ቀይሕ መስመር እዩ፡ ሰራዊትና ፈቀዶ በረኻታት ምስ ኣራዊት ሞሮር ዝነብር ዘሎ ምእንቲ ህዝቢ ኤርትራ ቀሲኑ ክሓድር እዩ እሞ ንሱስ ኣይትንከፍን። #Eritrea #NoMore

[Tighisty Misghina @TighistyM]

My Flag🇪🇷is my identity!!#EritreaPrevails

[Redi ታድ @AsmaraGemel]

#asmara

Just now

a group of Europeans sitting next to me were posting on facebook.

In their convo, the father insisted to his daughter to include:

that #Eritrea is so BEAUTIFUL & PEACEFULL... so that the world knows the TRUTH.

[Habte Bokretsion @Habte121]

@thedrosg1 ባንደራና ንዘላአለም ተንበልብል

[Habte Bokretsion @Habte121]

@Abeba08073184

[Habte Bokretsion @Habte121]

#NewProfilePic

[Habte Bokretsion @Habte121]

Here is the Truth what are they doing TPLf . https://t.co/Q5hp94ssb2

[Sirak Bahlbi @SirakBahlbi]

Getachew Reda describing #TPLF on March 2018
- #TPLF is a thieving organisation
- #TPLF is failed leadership & oppresses people,
- #TPLF is responsible for attacks on #Tigray people
- #TPLF fabricates reports
- #TPLF claimed falsely Tigray people prospered #TPLFLies #TPLFcrimes

[no @NicolaADeMarco]

WARNING: the organization calling itself "France24" appears to be spreading the false allegation of massacre #Axum, including photos from Nigeria. @jeffpropulsion https://t.co/VrdAYQ3J2r

[Nadew Shewaye @NadewShewaye]

@NatnaelMekonne7 https://t.co/DBhmjuuTdU
እንዲህ ያሉ ጠንካራ እውነትን የሚናገሩ በርካታ እህቶች አሉን!!

[Hadnet Keleta @hadnetkeleta]

#TPLFLies about ethnic cleansing in #Tigray is reverse logic, replacing facts with #Axumfiction. If any1 it was #TPLF that’s s been cleansing Tigray from #Amhara & other #Ethiopians including #MaiKadra massacre in Nov. 2020. #EritreaPrevails #EthiopiaPrevails @SecBlinken @USAmbUN

[Hadnet Keleta @hadnetkeleta]

4 decades z #HOA was a pawn in orchestrated conflicts.#HOA politics will no more accommodate such neocolonial designs. 2B #HoA economic partners @USUN @UKUN_NewYork @franceonu  should engage #Eritrea, #Ethiopia. We applaud @Chinamission2un @RussiaUN #EritreaPrevails #TPLFLies

[Habte Bokretsion @Habte121]

Here is the True information! https://t.co/mkCmblDGDk

[Habte Bokretsion @Habte121]

https://t.co/hXoU46LbQz

[Habte Bokretsion @Habte121]

https://t.co/yjnl4JUATg