Skip to main content

Eritrea’s Independence Day : Celebrating 32 Years of Freedom and Resilience

 

On May 24, 2025, Eritrea will celebrate 32 years of independence, marking its hard-won liberation from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year armed struggle. This national holiday is a vibrant display of patriotism, cultural pride, and remembrance of the sacrifices made for sovereignty.

Why Independence Day Matters

1. A Triumph After Decades of War

  • 1961–1991: Eritrea fought one of Africa’s longest liberation wars.

  • 1993 Referendum: 99.8% voted for independence—the world’s most unanimous plebiscite.

  • First President: Isaias Afwerki, a former rebel leader, remains in power today.

2. A Day of National Unity

  • Military parades in Asmara showcase Eritrea’s self-reliance.

  • Cultural festivals highlight the nation’s 9 ethnic groups, with traditional Tigrinya songs, Saho dances, and coffee ceremonies.

  • "Never Kneel Down" (national motto) echoes in speeches honoring martyrs.

3. Challenges & Global Isolation

  • No elections since 1993 (de facto one-party rule).

  • Mass emigration: 12% of Eritreans live abroad due to mandatory indefinite military service.

  • Sanctions lifted in 2024, raising hopes for economic revival.

How Eritrea Celebrates in 2025

1. Asmara’s Grand Parade

  • Tanks, fighter jets, and thousands of troops march down Liberation Avenue.

  • Students perform dramas reenacting key battles like Afabet (1988).

2. Diaspora Participation

  • Toronto, London, and Stockholm host rallies where Eritreans wave the green, red, and blue flag.

  • "Yiakl" (Memorial) concerts feature exiled artists like Helen Meles.

3. Controversies & Debates

  • Government critics abroad protest human rights abuses.

  • Youth activists push for reforms using #Eritrea32.

Eritrea’s Future at 32

Economic Hope: New mining deals (copper, gold, potash) could boost growth.
Diplomatic Thaw: Rejoining IGAD (East African bloc) after 16 years.
Cultural Pride: Asmara’s UNESCO-listed Art Deco architecture draws tourists.

A Call to Reflect

"This May 24, Eritreans worldwide will:

  1. Honor martyrs at candlelit vigils.

  2. Debate what ‘freedom’ truly means after 32 years.

  3. Dream of a future where prosperity meets liberty.

Independence was won—now the next chapter must be written."


  1. Timeline: "Eritrea’s Road to Freedom: 1941–1993."

  2. Recipe: "How to Make Zigni (Eritrean Spicy Stew)."

  3. Quiz: "How Well Do You Know Eritrea?" (Geography/history trivia).


"Eritrea’s story isn’t just about breaking chains—it’s about refusing to forge new ones."

 
Excerpt from The Camels of the Revolution (2024 memoir)

Comments

Most visited

The Art of Saving Time: Reclaim Your Most Precious Resource

Time is the one resource we can never get back. Once it's spent, it's gone forever. Yet, many of us find ourselves constantly racing against the clock, feeling like there aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything we want to do. The good news is that with the right strategies and mindset shifts, you can learn to save time effectively and create more space for what truly matters in your life. Understanding Where Your Time Actually Goes Before you can save time, you need to understand where it's currently being spent. Most people vastly underestimate how much time they spend on certain activities. Start by tracking your time for a week. Write down what you're doing every 30 minutes. This simple exercise often reveals shocking truths about our daily habits. Common time drains include endless social media scrolling, excessive email checking, poorly organized workspaces, and saying yes to commitments that don't align with your priorities. Once you ide...

Can We Really Take Time as a Loan? A Journey Through Physics and Life

    Can We Really Take Time as a Loan? A Journey Through Physics and Life   By Andrews Elsan When my Physics teacher told me that "we can take time as a loan," it instantly caught my attention. At first, it sounded impossible — how can anyone borrow something as abstract and unstoppable as time? But when I thought about it deeply, I realized that this phrase carries both scientific and life-related meanings that fundamentally change how we understand our relationship with time itself. The concept initially seemed paradoxical. Time, after all, is the one constant in our lives that moves forward relentlessly, indifferent to our wishes or needs. We cannot pause it, rewind it, or save it for later use. Yet, as I delved deeper into both the scientific principles and practical applications of this metaphor, I discovered layers of meaning that transformed my understanding of time management, physics, and life philosophy. Time as a Loan in Daily Life In our everyday routines,...

The Great Career Exodus: Why Modern Workers Are Abandoning Everything to Become Monks, Entrepreneurs, and Serial Job-Hoppers

In an unprecedented wave of career abandonment, millions of people worldwide are walking away from stable jobs to pursue radically different paths. Some are trading corner offices for monastery cells, others are leaving corporate careers to become farmers, artists, or digital nomads. This phenomenon, often called "The Great Resignation" or "The Great Reshuffle," represents more than just job dissatisfaction—it's a neurochemical rebellion against the modern work paradigm. But what's really happening in our brains when we feel the urge to completely reinvent our professional lives? The answer lies in understanding how our neurochemistry responds to different types of work, meaning, and lifestyle choices. The Neurochemical Foundation of Job Satisfaction To understand why people are making such dramatic career shifts, we need to explore the brain's reward system and how different activities trigger the release of key neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin...