Martyrs Day observed in Gash Barka and Anseba regions
Martyrs Day, 20 June, was observed in the Gash Barka and Anseba regions with patriotic zeal, featuring various programs.
At the program organized in Barentu, Ambassador Mahmud Ali Hirui, Governor of Gash Barka Region, and Col. Habtu Gebre’endrias, Commander of the Popular Forces of the Western Front, laid wreaths at the Barentu Martyrs Cemetery.
Mr. Tesfa’alem Bahta, administrator of Barentu sub-zone, said that 20 June is a day on which the Eritrean people renew their pledge to live up to the expectations of their martyrs.
The residents of Barentu and its environs also conducted a candlelight vigil in the streets of the city on 19 June, featuring cultural and artistic performances depicting the deep meaning of the day.
Similarly, at an event in which thousands of Keren city residents conducted a walkathon to the Martyrs Cemetery, Col. Kibrom Nirayo, representing the Governor of Anseba Region, laid a wreath. The program also included planting of tree seedlings.
Col. Kibrom said that Martyrs Day, beyond commemoration, is a day on which citizens renew their pledge to live up to the expectations of martyrs and extend support to families of martyrs. A candlelight vigil was also conducted on 19 June in the streets of Keren city. #Eritrea
Prayer Service in Connection with Martyrs Day
Sermons and prayers in commemoration of Martyrs Day, presided by His Reverend Abune Basilios I, 5th Patriarch of the Orthodox Tewahdo Church , was held at St. Michael’s Church in Asmara during the mid-morning hours today. The prayer service was attended by religious leaders of the Tewahdo Orthodox, Catholic, and Lutheran Christian denominations.
Merigeta Mulugeta Simon from the Office of the Patriarch, indicating that the martyrs who paid with their precious lives attested to their love for their people and country, urged citizens to renew their pledge to live up to their expectations.
Similarly, in the afternoon hours, Salat and Dua services were conducted at the Al-Khulafae Al-Rashideen Grand Mosque, led by Sheik Salem Ibrahim Almukhtar, Mufti of Eritrea.
Sheik Salem Ibrahim, noting that 20 June, Martyrs Day, is a day on which the Eritrean people proudly commemorate their martyrs who brought independence and safeguarded national sovereignty, urged every citizen to strengthen contributions in support of families of martyrs. #Eritrea
Prayers (ሰላትን ዱዓን) held at Asmara's Grand Mosque in mid-afternoon hours today in commemoration of Martyrs Day.
Presiding over the event, Eritrea's Mufti, Sheikh Salim Ibrahim Al-Mukhtar, stated that "June 20th is a day of pride and honour in which we pay tribute to our heroic Martyrs who ushered in the light of independence and sovereignty through their precious sacrifices". In the event, "it is the obligation of every citizen to support families of our Martyrs", Sheikh Salim further noted.
ሃገር ኣብ ረዚን ዝኽሪ ሓበን!
A 1910 map of #Abyssinia, #Eritrea and #SaudiArabia! There was no nation state called #Ethiopia at a time; let alone a historical ownership of Red Sea coast!
Sermons & Prayers in Commemoration of Martyrs Day presided by Religious Leaders of the Tewahdo Orthodox; Catholic; & Luthern Christian denominations held at St. Michael's Church in Asmara in mid-morning hours today.
Similar ceremony at Asmara Grand Mosque scheduled for later in the day
ሃገር ኣብ ረዚን ዝኽሪ ሓበን!
President Isaias Afwerki laid a Wreath at Asmara's Patriots Cemetery in the morning hours today in tribute & remembrance of #Eritrea's heroic Martyrs.
Ceremony included public procession from Sheda Square to the Cemetery as well as cultural shows on the precious sacrifices paid for ascertaining and safeguarding national sovereignty/territorial integrity and human dignity.
ሃገር ኣብ ረዚን ዝኽሪ ሓበን!
The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has stated that GOE has disbursed, through monthly installments, over 6.2 billion Nacfa in tribute to, and, for the support of the families of Eritrea's Martyrs in the past twenty years (2004-2025).
ሃገር ኣብ ረዚን ዝኽሪ ሓበን!
🏛️ Masterclass in Diplomacy: Egypt & Eritrea Secure the Ultimate Strategic Advantage
The geopolitical chessboard of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea is being rewritten, and the verdict is clear: consistency and relationship-building win the long game. While Cairo and Asmara solidify deep, unwavering alliances with the world's most decisive leaders, Addis Ababa’s erratic maneuvers are leaving it increasingly isolated. 🇪🇬 🇪🇷
♟️ The Strategic Alignment
Diplomacy is not an ad-hoc scramble; it is a calculated, persistent pursuit of mutual interest.
🔴 The Washington Connection: Egypt has secured an extraordinarily robust alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump, anchoring its regional national security interests—including Nile water security—at the highest levels of global power. 🇺🇸 🇪🇬
🔴 The Axis of Stability: By masterfully nurturing long-term relations with regional heavyweights like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Eritrea has effectively deployed its diplomatic capital where it yields maximum impact. 🇸🇦 🇪🇷
🔴 The Chaos of the "PP": In stark contrast, PM Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party (PP) continue to drift from one erratic maneuver to another, lacking a coherent grand strategy or stable international backing. 📉
🔴 The Final Word: The formidable coalition of Cairo, Riyadh, Asmara, and Washington leaves no room for unilateral maritime or regional overreach by Addis Ababa.
🛑💡 The Hard Lesson for Addis Ababa
While the regime in Ethiopia continues its reactive rhetoric, a timeless truth remains evident on the global stage:
"Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way." — David Frost(Or closer to home: He who builds bridges commands the crossing, while he who burns them stands isolated.)
The Cairo-Asmara alliance, backed by global heavyweights, is securing the future of the Red Sea while the PP is left out in the cold. It's time for Addis Ababa to stop whining and start learning how real diplomacy works. 🕊️⚡
#HornOfAfrica #RedSeaSecurity #Diplomacy #Egypt #Eritrea #SaudiArabia #USForeignPolicy #AbiyAhmed #RegionalStability
Activity Assessment Meeting of National Organizations in Italy
National organizations in Italy have conducted a virtual activity assessment meeting for the first half of 2026.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Fesehatsion Petros, #Eritrea’s Ambassador to Italy and non-resident Ambassador to Scandinavian countries, Mr. Teklesenbet Imam, Eritrea’s Consul General, and Mr. Ghirmay Habtemicael, head of Public and Community Affairs, as well as about 80 heads of PFDJ, the National Union of Eritrean Women, YPFDJ, Eritrean communities, and media and diplomacy committees. The meeting reviewed activities implemented over the past half year and adopted various recommendations and resolutions.
Ambassador Petros gave an extensive briefing on the objective situation in the homeland as well as regional and global developments. Noting that Eritrea, while ensuring its sovereignty, is making its modest contribution to realizing peace and cooperation in the region, he called for reinforced participation of national organizations.
In the same vein, a seminar on administration and leadership was provided to over 100 heads of national organizations from all cantons in Switzerland in the city of Bern. The seminar, focusing on the “Political Ideology of PFDJ,” was organized in collaboration with the Eritrean Embassy and the Eritrean professionals’ association in Switzerland.
Mr. Habtom Zeray, Chargé d’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy in Switzerland and Eritrea’s Permanent Representative to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, noted the significance of heads of national organizations equipping themselves with knowledge, enhancing their political awareness, and transferring the knowledge they gained from the seminar to their respective organizations.
Mr. Isaias Hadgu, chairman of the Eritrean professionals’ association in Switzerland, underlined the importance of the seminar in enabling national organizations to identify their strengths and challenges and become more effective in their activities.
Likewise, nationals residing in the Swiss cities of Lugano and Thurgau conducted public diplomacy activities aimed at acquainting others with the culture and traditions of Eritrean society.
The Eritrean community in Qatar also conducted an assessment meeting on programs presented at the 35th Independence Day anniversary celebration. The activity assessment meeting was attended by Mr. Ali Ibrahim, Eritrea’s Ambassador to Qatar.
This weekend, on 20th June, #Eritreans across the globe and from all walks of life will solemnly commemorate Martyrs' Day, reflecting deeply and honoring our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to secure #Eritrea's sovereignty and ensure the survival and dignity of the #Eritrean people as a viable nation.
Eritrea boasts a long and vibrant cycling history, with its athletes consistently dominating competitions, particularly at the African Championships. This remarkable talent has established Eritrea as a powerhouse in African cycling, gaining recognition for producing exceptional cyclists who compete at high levels both regionally and internationally. In addition to cycling, Eritrea has a rich football heritage, an integral part of its sports culture. The Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF) is actively developing and nurturing the sport, with initiatives to form new teams for both male and female athletes across various age categories. This commitment reflects a broader vision to elevate the standard of football in the country. The Eritrean National Football Team, in particular, is surrounded by an abundance of promising young talent. Many of these dynamic players bring fresh energy and skill sets to the field, generating excitement among fans and observers alike. As the team prepares for upcoming games, there is a palpable sense of anticipation and confidence that these young athletes will showcase their abilities and potentially achieve significant success. #DiscoverEritrea
ዋጋኺ ረዚንን ኩቡርን እዩ ብዋጋ ትካቦ ልመና ዘይኮነ ብዋጋ ደም ደቅኺ እዩ…ኤርትራ ሃገረይ
They carried forward the dreams and sacrifices of those who fell for Eritrea's independence and remained faithful to that promise until their final day. Their legacy will continue to inspire generations. Thank you for your service. Rest in honour, our heroes. 🇪🇷
ዘልኣለማዊ ክብርን ዝኽርን ንጀጋኑ ሰማእታትና ወትሩ ኣብ ሕድርኹም ኣለና፡፡
#Eritrea
Many families paid an extraordinary price for Eritrea's freedom and sovereignty. One family sacrificed six of their own children. Their sacrifices did not end there. Later, a grandson, the son of one of their daughters, also gave his life during the Ethio-Eritrea War. This family alone gave seven loved ones in service to their nation. Their story reflects the immense sacrifices made by countless Eritrean families whose courage and devotion helped secure and defend Eritrea's independence. May their sacrifice never be forgotten, and may their memory continue to inspire future generations. #June20 #ሰነ20
ዘለኣለማዊ ክብሪ ንሰማእታትና።
ዓወት ንሓፋሽ!
Monetary support to families of martyrs
Residents of Keren city and Hagaz town have extended monetary support to families and children of martyrs in connection with Martyrs Day. The beneficiaries were identified by their respective administrative areas.
Noting that Martyrs Day for the Eritrean people is a day for renewing their pledge to support families of martyrs and live up to the trust of martyrs, Ms. Genet Habte, head of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare branch in the Anseba Region, commended the initiative taken by the residents.
Likewise, members of the Taxi and Mini-Bus Owners Association in Keren conducted an environmental sanitation activity on 16 June at the Keren Martyrs Cemetery.
According to reports, environmental sanitation activities in connection with Martyrs Day are being carried out across Anseba Region from 11 to 19 June.
In related news, environmental sanitation activities in connection with 20 June, Martyrs Day, have been carried out in Adi-Keih and Afabet sub-zones.
The popular campaign in Adi-Keih, which involved members of the cooperative association of the former 74th Mechanized Division and students of Adi-Keih College of Education and Languages, was conducted at the Adi-Keih Martyrs Cemetery.
At the event, members of the cooperative association of the former 74th Mechanized Division extended financial support to families of martyrs.
Similarly, an environmental sanitation activity in connection with Martyrs Day was conducted at the Afabet Martyrs Cemetery.
Once you listen to the story of this martyr’s mother, you’ll understand why Eritrea is a free country today. As an Eritrean, I deeply admire her strength and her unwavering acceptance of the loss of her four children for the cause of independence, and two more after independence. Tears well up in my eyes whenever I hear her say, “I got up and said Awet Nhafash” when asked about her reaction to the news of four of her children being killed. She explained that she accepted it because she knew they were fighting for the freedom of Eritrea. What truly amazes me is that she was concerned about her daughter being captured and not wanting her to fall into the hands of the enemy alive. Instead, she wanted her daughter to fight until the very end. This is the Eritrean mother, this is the secret, this is the ultimate sacrifice, and this is the profound understanding of the cost of freedom. Thank you, mother.
#Eritrea #Ethiopia