Its journey to independence, etched in the annals of the 20th century, reflects the aspirations of a people who dared to dream of sovereignty and freedom. This exploration begins by tracing the roots of Eritrea's identity, delving into the historical echoes that resonated with calls for...

Together, we will uncover the stories of brave individuals who dare to speak out, artists who use their creativity to resist, and advocates who tirelessly work to bring attention to Eritrea's plight. From silenced voices to lost dreams, we will examine the profound impact of censorship, repression, and the suppression of human rights on Eritreans both within the country's borders and beyond. Together, we will uncover the stories of brave individuals who dare to speak out, artists who use their creativity to resist, and advocates who tirelessly work to bring attention to Eritrea's plight. From silenced voices to lost dreams, we will examine the profound impact of censorship, repression, and the suppression of human rights on Eritreans both within the country's borders and beyond.

This book is a comprehensive analysis of the country's political history over the past three decades.

Eritrea is a northeast African country shares its borders with Sudan to the west, Ethiopia to the south, and Djibouti to the southeast. It also has a coastline along the Red Sea. The country has a population of over 5 million and its capital is Asmara. The official language of Eritrea is Tigrinya, but Arabic and English are also widely spoken. The country is known for its history of colonization and struggle for independence, as well as its diverse ethnic groups and unique culture. Eritrea has a developing economy, with agriculture and mining being the main sectors. Its government is a presidential republic with a single-party system. Eritrea has a long and complex history, with colonization beginning with Italy in the late 1800s. The country was later occupied by Britain after World War II and then annexed by Ethiopia in 1962. Eritrea gained its independence in 1993 after a 30-year war for independence from Ethiopia. Since then, the country has faced various challenges, including ongoing border disputes with Ethiopia and criticism for its lack of political freedoms and human rights abuses. However, the country has also made progress in areas such as healthcare and education. Despite economic and political challenges, Eritrea remains a resilient and culturally diverse nation.

The most secretive, repressive state in Africa is hemorrhaging its citizens. In some months as many Eritreans as Syrians arrive on European shores, yet the country is not convulsed by civil war. Young men and women risk all to escape. Many do not survive - their bones littering the Sahara; their bodies floating in the Mediterranean. Still they flee, to avoid permanent military service and a future without hope. As the United Nations reported: 'Thousands of conscripts are subjected to forced labor that effectively abuses, exploits and enslaves them for years.' Eritreans fought for their freedom from Ethiopia for thirty years, only to have their revered leader turn on his own people. Independent since 1993, the country has no constitution and no parliament. No budget has ever been published. Elections have never been held and opponents languish in jail. International organizations find it next to impossible to work in the country. Nor is it just a domestic issue. By supporting armed insurrection in neighboring states it has destabilized the Horn of Africa. Eritrea is involved in the Yemeni civil war, while the regime backs rebel movements in Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti. This book tells the untold story of how this tiny nation became a world pariah.

Volume two in Bereket Habte Selassie's memoir continues where The Crown and the Pen (Africa World Press - also available from Turnaround) left off. Through historical and political analyses, Selassie lays bare the hidden - and not so hidden - elements that led to Eritrea's descent from a stellar model of democracy to a tragic abyss of dictatorship and isolation. Combined with the first volume, Wounded Nation is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and politics of Eritrea and the Horn of Africa.

Eritrea is located in northeast Africa on the Red Sea coast and boasts one of the oldest human settlements in the region. One-million-year-old human remains have been found in the Danakil Depression in the country, which is home to one of the oldest-written scripts in sub-Saharan Africa: Ge'ez. Eritrea was also pioneer in multi-party democracy in Africa and had a democratic constitution based on United Nations principles in 1952. But it is also home to one of the earliest armed liberation movements in Africa - a conflict that Mohamed Kheir Omer witnessed firsthand, having grown up in Eritrea as a member of the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF). In this book, he traces the history of the country, exploring how ethnicity, religion, geography, colonialism, and other factors have shaped its fate - and what must be done to ensure its people enjoy a brighter future. The history of Eritrea is similar to others on the continent, and its people continue to struggle to build a just, democratic, and inclusive country.