Michael Tewelde

michael tewelde

[Berhane @EmbassyEritrea]

The US has finally removed the unilateral sanctions on Eritrea today.

Congratulations to the people and Government of #Eritrea for their steadfastness, resilience, and principled approach that made this development a reality.

The unilateral sanctions imposed on Eritrea by the Biden Administration in 2021 were unwarranted and caused undue damage on Eritrea. Now that they have been removed, we welcome this positive gesture and corrective measures taken by the Trump Administration.

Today’s move by the US should mark the beginning of a new chapter in the Eritrea-US relations, that we envision to be grounded in #sovereign respect, mutual interests, and the pursuit of a mutually beneficial #partnership. 🇪🇷🇺🇸

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

#Eritrea's senior delegation composed of Mr. Hagos Gebrehiwet, Head of PFDJ Economic Affairs; and Mr, Nesredin Mohammed Saleh, the Minister of Trade and Industry; held a meeting in Riyadh in the afternoon hours today, with Mr. Waleed Alkhereiji, the Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The extensive discussions focused on full appraisal and progress of bilateral ties of cooperation in various fields; its enhancement in the period ahead; as well as other issues of mutual interest.

Eritrea's senior delegation had met yesterday with senior officials in the Ministry of Energy as well as the Saudi National Oil Company (ARAMCO) to discuss concrete areas of mutual cooperation.

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

#Eritrea - Congrats to all for this preliminary milestone": #CelebrateEritreanExcellence in any domain and in any place/corner of the planet!

https://t.co/x0Lc5FsSR9

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

The Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, arrived in Asmara in the mid-morning hours today for a working visit.

The current visit is part and parcel of the periodic consultative framework that is held between the two sisterly countries.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his entourage were accorded warm welcome by President Isaias Afwerki on their arrival at Asmara International Airport.

President Isaias Afwerki and General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan will discuss enhancement of bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, the Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council, departed home in the early afternoon hours today after a fruitful Summit with President Isaias Afwerki.

The discussions centered on enhancement of bilateral ties and broader consultation on other matters of mutual interest to both countries.

In an Interview with the Eritrean News Agency, General al Burhan stated that his current visit to Eritrea constitutes yet another manifestation of the robust popular and historical ties that exist between the two sisterly countries.

General Burhan further expressed his appreciation for Eritrea's principled position on the current situation in Sudan.

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

Continuous Learning and Improvement: Highlighting the Office of the Auditor General (OAG); by Bana Negusse

*"...In Eritrea, the Office of the Auditor General serves as the country’s supreme public auditing institution. Pursuant to Legal Notice No. 14/1993, Article 2(25), the OAG is mandated to audit government ministries, national departments, state-owned enterprises, and other public institutions and to prepare comprehensive audit reports regularly. Although the present Office was formally established following Eritrea’s independence – initially under Proclamation No. 23/1992 and subsequently reconstituted under Proclamation No. 37/1993 – the practice of public auditing in Eritrea has a much longer and richer history".

*"...Over the past three decades, both the institutional capacity of the OAG and the professional competence of its staff have expanded considerably. The scope, quality, and sophistication of its auditing services have likewise improved, enabling the institution to carry out its mandate with increasing effectiveness. International experts who have worked alongside the OAG have consistently praised the professionalism of its personnel, describing Eritrean auditors as highly competent, motivated, and dedicated professionals. These assessments have been reinforced by the institution’s own accomplishments, including receiving Awards of Excellence from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) International in 2007 and the African Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI) in 2014".

https://t.co/jzA67B2T1y

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

In these tumultuous times, charting out synergetic and complementary architecture of collective regional security, and more broadly, modalities and mechanisms of wider cooperation has become more vital and urgent than ever before.

The overarching political considerations and operational calculus behind this conviction are the imperatives of ownership and agency; the need to avoid a polarized climate of global rivalry; and the rationale for enhancing local capacity building and mutual cooperation between the main stakeholders to secure and enhance enduring regional peace and stability.

In the Red Sea, this broad framework translates and is better summed up in the following 12 points that Eritrea submitted to the Council of Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Littoral States few years ago.

Eritrea maintains that these parameters can indeed serve as substantive inputs that can be enriched through continuous and rigorous consultation against the backdrop of fluid and changing realities.

1. Comprehensive and unbiased assessment of the current realities of the Red Sea and associated matters, in all their dimensions and perspectives in a realistic manner;
2. Full clarity on the desired objectives and goals;
3. Detailed mapping of the threats to the peace and security of the Red Sea; and, categorization and specification of these parameters;
4. Formulation of a viable strategy that will ensure achievement of constructive objectives and goals;
5. Formulation of strategies to contain and eliminate the threats in tandem with the positive policies of cooperation;
6. Mapping out detailed schemes and plans that will ensure holistic implementation of the twin strategies;
7. Stipulation of the implementation mechanisms, associated structures and mobilization of the requisite resources;
8. Ensuring that all the organizational configurations and frameworks that are developed are anchored on respect of sovereignty and international law;
9. Ensuring that all littoral States build and possess their own effective defense capabilities and naval forces (without delegation to others);
10. Supplementing, through collective efforts and synergy, those specific tasks that cannot be met through individual domestic capabilities and resources;
11. All relevant States will create appropriate modalities of cooperation with “external forces” for tasks or missions that are beyond their collective capability on the basis of a consensual framework;
12. Creation of competent committees to address all these issues in a comprehensive and professional manner.

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

Statement by #Eritrea's Delegation at 20th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union Assembly on Health; Accra, 22 July 2026

&"...Eritrea considers health as a fundamental human right. Guided by the principle of social justice, Eritrea is committed to ensuring that every citizen - regardless of where they live - has equitable access to quality healthcare at nominal cost or free of charge".

*"...One of the areas where Eritrea has made significant progress is maternal and newborn health. The country has placed mothers and newborns at the center of its national development agenda through sustained investment in a resilient and expanding healthcare system. Coverage of antenatal care has steadily improved, with the proportion of pregnant women receiving at least one skilled antenatal consultation increasing from 83 percent in 2022 to 87 percent in 2025. Facility-based deliveries also rose significantly - from 73 percent to 85 percent over the same period - reflecting growing confidence in the health system and improved access to skilled birth attendance. At the same time, Eritrea expanded surgical capacity in zonal hospitals, increasing the national Caesarean section rate from 3.8 percent to 6.5 percent by 2025, bringing it within the World Health Organization’s recommended range of 5 to 15 percent".

*"... I wish to reaffirm that Eritrea will redouble its efforts towards expediting the achievement of health-related development goals at national level and remains committed to working hand in hand with sisterly African countries for the achievement of the goals at regional and continental levels".
https://t.co/3on5DJBm60

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

The College of Business and Social Sciences has conferred First Degrees & Diplomas to 1018 graduates - 47% of whom are female - in its 19th Commencement held in Asmara today.

Degree courses include: Business Management and Public Administration; Accounting; Economics and Finance; English; Geography; Law; Library and Information Science; and, Sociology and Anthropology.

The Diploma courses consist of: Accounting; Banking; Sociology and Social Work; as well as Tourism and Hotel Management.

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

Good Read - The Mesob: Testament to the Artistry, Unity, and Grace of Eritrean Women; by Kidane Shimendi

*"...the Mesob anchors the time-honored cultural practice of communal dining; a tradition through which generations of Eritreans have fostered mutual respect, deep affection, and unbreakable social bonds. This practice of eating together from a single, shared platter is vibrant and alive across all nine of Eritrea’s ethnic groups, each possessing its own beautiful term for this focal point of hospitality: Tigrinya: Meadi (መኣዲ), Tigre: Metaagal, Saho: Maddi, Bilen: Meddira or Gbar, Kunama: Gonta or Nada Gonta, Nara: Gaan, Bidawyet (Hadendowa): Tooda, Afar: Galadda, Rashaida (Arabic): Maida".

*"...The Mesob is far more than a woven basket; it is a monument to the spirit of Eritrea. Through its captivating geometry, its rich national colors, and the nourishing meals served from its crown, it reflects the generosity, intellect, and love of the women who craft it. It is a magnificent testament to a national heritage engraved with beauty. Let us all honor, celebrate, and preserve the brilliant artistic legacy of Eritrea’s women".
https://t.co/JWNszvy7ah

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

Eritrea and Egypt have agreed, in talks held this afternoon between Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and his Egyptian counterpart, Dr. Badr Abdellaty, to strengthen their all-rounded bilateral ties of cooperation and to coordinate their respective positions on issues of common interest.

In a Joint Press Conference held after the talks, the two Foreign Ministers:
- Invoked the historical and brotherly ties that exist between Eritrea and Egypt and the extensive talks held between President Isaias Afwerki and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on 8 June this week.
- Affirmed that the two sides have reached a cooperation agreement on the sectors of mining, infrastructure, housing, the pharmaceutical industry, maritime transport, ports connectivity as well as ports development especially in Assab, Massawa and Marsa Fatima; and, land, air and maritime connectivity between the two countries.
- Egypt reiterated its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Eritrea.
- In regard to the security of the Red Sea and the region as a whole, they reiterated the need and urgency of bolstering the capabilities of national institutions as the bedrock of stability and development. This was in line with the pronounced and aligned positions of the two Heads of State on the imperative of respecting the foundational principles of international law on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States.

The two Foreign Ministers further affirmed the continuation of periodic consultative meetings in Cairo and Asmara between relevant government bodies of the two sides as well as coordination in their positions on regional and international matters.

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

President Isaias Afwerki and his delegation made a tour of the new Administrative Capital in the Cairo Governorate and the various Public Service Pavilions and infrastructures under construction. Discussions centered on prospective areas of broad cooperation.

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

World Environment Day commemorated at Barka Secondary School Conference Hall in Asmara today under the theme: "Inspired by Nature; For Climate, For our Future!".

Opening Remarks by Mr. Tesfai Gebreslassie, the Minister of Land, Water and Environment. Additional Remarks by Mrs. Nashida Sattar, Representing the UNDP; and, by Ms. Airella Glinni, FAO Representative in Eritrea.

Programme also featured, among other items:
- Presentation of Progress and Contribution of Students Summer Work;
- Paper on Climate Change Consequences and Imperative for Collective Action;
- Video Presentation on Waste Management;
- Award Ceremony for Winner Students in Climate General Knowledge Competition.

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

The Proceedings (Volume 1 & 2) of the International Conference on Eritrean Studies (ICES 2025) that was convened in Asmara from 3-7 January 2025 are now available on Amazon at the link below...

https://t.co/CIePCDyxHw #Amazon via @Amazon

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

#EidMubarak - Eid Al Adha celebrations held at Bahti Meskerem this morning in the presence of senior Government and PFDJ officials, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and the faithful.

Prayers and blessings presided by Eritrea's Mufti, Sheikh Salem Ibrahim Al-Mukhtar.

In the religious sermon that he delivered, Sheikh Salem paid homage to Eritrea's Martyrs and underlined that those who cherish peace are those who know full well, and have suffered, the agonies and devastation inculcated by war. The Mufti also conveyed his congratulations to the Eritrean people and its Defense Forces.

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

Excellent Read - #Eritrea’s Religious Harmony: A Millennium of Coexistence
by Dr. Tsegai Medin

*"...Eritrea’s religious landscape is defined by a deep-seated tradition of coexistence that predates many modern concepts of secularism or tolerance. For over a millennium, the country has served as a sanctuary where different faiths do not merely ‘tolerate’ one another but exist in organic harmony. The country is home to some of the most significant early religious landmarks in the Horn of Africa. This unique identity is anchored in a history that saw the birth of major world religions and their peaceful arrival on the Red Sea coast".

*"...In a modern world often divided by religious sectarianism and conflict, Eritrea stands as a unique example of tolerance. It is common to see mosques and churches - built side by side in the same villages - and religious holidays are frequently celebrated by Christians and Muslims together".

*"...Since the 7th century, this land has served as a sanctuary for diverse congregations. Today, this tradition of harmony is more than just a social norm - it is a defining characteristic of the Eritrean national identity".

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

Press Statement

The Backdrop of Unwarranted Sanctions
Ministry of Information
Asmara, 6 May 2026

"There are reports these days that the illegal and unilateral US sanctions will soon be lifted. We earnestly hope that this act will indeed herald an enduring rectification of misguided policies to ensure justice, legality and fairness".

https://t.co/MBEsiS1lbc

[Biniam Berhe 🇪🇷 @biniamb]

"...from antiquity to the present, Eritrea’s geology has always underpinned its economy. However, the 21st century demands a transformation from raw extraction to high-tech optimization."
A thought- provoking article by @globalezra

https://t.co/Q4IZCwpJnn

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

#Eritrea - Statement by Foreign Minister Osman Saleh at the Geneva Conference on Unilateral Sanctions

"The international order is increasingly characterized by the normalization, expansion, and quiet institutionalization of unilateral coercive measures. Their scope has widened, their application intensified, and their reach extended far beyond national jurisdictions. This evolution has unfolded largely outside the framework of multilateral legitimacy and in tension with the foundational principles of international law, sovereign equality, non-interference, and the importance of the Charter of the United Nations".

https://t.co/74LNTq2Zou

[Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 @hawelti]

#Eritrea's defining attributes and gold-standard of renowned resilience; unparalleled social cohesion; and rich heritage of walking in lock-step in all conceivable circumstances have, and continue to remain, elements of extreme annoyance and despair to the notorious clique of hired lobbyists and Conflict Entrepreneurs - እፍሊ ሓንጨመንጪ/ጋንታ ገናዞ።

Reason why we see them resort to, and spew, vitriol intermittently; especially during quarterly/periodic paydays.
https://t.co/hppIRBxnTg