By Hadnet Keleta
Let us begin with a little-known fact.
Among the liberation movements of the twentieth century, the struggle of the Eritrean people stands as one of the most remarkable examples of endurance, organization, and ultimate victory. The Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF), which led the Eritrean people to victory through a grueling thirty-year war for independence, achieved what many believed impossible: defeating a far larger adversary backed at different times by the world’s two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies.
In a 1993 report on Eritrea’s independence, the American magazine TIME aptly captured the magnitude of the achievement, noting that Eritrea had earned a place among the most extraordinary liberation victories in modern history.
What were the ingredients behind this extraordinary success? Primarily two: an exemplary leadership working in complete harmony with a resolute, resilient, and indefatigable people.
A Civilization Rooted in History
Although Eritrea emerged as a modern sovereign state only thirty-five years ago, its people are heirs to some of the world’s oldest civilizations. Parts of Eritrea, at one time or another, were part of the ancient civilizations of Punt, Adulis, Merowe, Axum, and the Sabean civilization across the Red Sea.
For more than fourteen centuries, Christianity and Islam have coexisted harmoniously in Eritrea. Christianity arrived in the early fourth century, while Islam reached the country in the seventh century. Beyond their spiritual importance, these two faiths became foundational pillars of Eritrean identity, values, culture, and social cohesion.
Eritrea possesses its own writing system based on an extended Ge’ez Fidel and has maintained written legal codes for centuries. Historically, many parts of today’s Eritrea were active in trade, agriculture, architecture, and maritime commerce, and ports in today’s Eritrea served as important economic hubs in the Horn of Africa, linking the region with the Mediterranean, the Near East, and the Far East. Colonial plunder, occupation and decades of war severely damaged the nation’s infrastructure and economy, yet they failed to destroy the spirit of the people.
A glance at Eritrea’s long history reveals the roots of the resilience, strength, and determination that sustained the people through decades of sacrifice and struggle. It is from this deep historical reservoir that the second key ingredient emerged: the quality of Eritrean leadership.
EPLF’s leaders did not emerge from a vacuum. They were products of Eritrean society itself, molded by its hardships, values, discipline, and collective aspirations.
The “ንሕናን ዕላማናን” niHnan Ilamanan Generation
One of the defining foundations of Eritrean leadership was the guiding document “ንሕናን ዕላማናን” (“Who We Are and What We Stand For.”), written by the young freedom fighter Isaias Afwerki during the early years of the struggle.
At a time when many liberation movements across the world were fragmented by ideology, tribalism, external manipulation, or personal ambition, Eritrea’s young revolutionaries articulated a clear national vision centered on unity, self-reliance, social justice, discipline, and national consciousness. What makes this extraordinary is the age and circumstances of those leaders. Many of them were in their early twenties— young men and women who left behind comfort, education, and family life to dedicate themselves entirely to the liberation of Eritrea.
Some of the early leadership were university students. Some had already completed their degrees, while many others abandoned their studies just before graduation to join the armed struggle. They sacrificed personal ambitions for the future of their country. Yet even in the harshest wartime conditions, they never stopped learning. They read extensively, educated themselves, organized cadre schools and political education programs, and constantly sought to improve their knowledge and competence.
After independence, opportunities were opened for former freedom fighters to continue their education and prepare themselves for the immense challenges of nation-building. Their commitment to self-improvement became an example for younger generations of Eritreans. For many of us who grew up observing them, they became living examples of discipline, sacrifice, resilience, and service.
The philosophy of “ንሕናን ዕላማናን” became more than a political document. It became the moral and ideological foundation of a generation. It taught Eritreans to think collectively rather than individually, to prioritize national survival over personal gain, and to cultivate resilience under the harshest conditions.
Building a powerful and consistent liberation movement without significant external assistance seemed nearly impossible. However, Eritrean leadership proved otherwise. Through unity, consciousness, resilience, discipline, and vision, they forged what many came to call an “iron liberation movement.” The iron leadership created an iron movement.
The founding fathers and mothers of Eritrea — the guardians of the nation — were tested repeatedly by war, famine, isolation, and enormous military pressure. They were pushed, attacked, and challenged from every direction, yet they refused to bend. From beginning to end, their motto was unwavering:
“ኣይንምብርኸኽን” — We shall never kneel down!
Outstanding Achievements of the Eritrean Leadership
1. Building a Powerful Liberation Movement
The EPLF leadership built upon the pioneering efforts of earlier anti-colonial movements in Eritrea their weaknesses and strengthes, forged a disciplined political, military, and social force capable of prevailing against overwhelming odds. Despite limited resources, the movement succeeded through organization, self-reliance, popular participation, and unwavering determination.
2. Securing Legitimate Independence
Although Eritrea had already secured an unequivocal military victory in 1991, its leadership chose not to rest its legitimacy on battlefield success alone. Instead, it took the more deliberate and principled path of submitting the question of independence to an internationally observed referendum in 1993, ensuring that Eritrea’s statehood would be anchored not merely in military triumph, but in the unmistakable democratic expression of the Eritrean people’s right to self-determination; both inside the country and across the diaspora.
Strictly speaking, Eritrea was under no legal, political, or historical obligation to hold a referendum. Its case was fundamentally one of decolonization, a process that should have been resolved as early as 1941, when Fascist Italy was driven out of Eritrea during the East African campaign. The other former Italian colonies—Libya and Somalia—were ultimately granted their independence, yet Eritrea was denied the same right. Instead, the aspirations of the Eritrean people were subordinated to the strategic calculations of powerful Western actors whose geopolitical interests took precedence over the unfinished business of decolonization. By any coherent decolonial logic, Eritrea’s sovereignty was not a new claim in 1991; it was a long-delayed historical and legal entitlement.
Yet the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front had made a solemn promise that the Eritrean people themselves, not armies, foreign powers, or diplomatic arrangements, would have the final word on their political future. True to that promise, it honored its commitment. The 1993 referendum was therefore not an act born of necessity, nor a legal requirement imposed from outside, but an act of principle: a conscious decision to transform a hard-won military victory into an unassailable legal, political, and moral mandate grounded in the freely expressed will of the people.
The result was unmistakable: an overwhelming, 99.8%, affirmation of independence, followed by the formal recognition of Eritrea as a sovereign and independent state by the international community.
3. Transforming Society
The EPLF-led revolution fundamentally transformed Eritrean society. It promoted national unity across ethnic and religious lines, encouraged the empowerment of women and youth, and cultivated a strong sense of citizenship and collective responsibility.
Today, Eritrea remains one of the few countries in the region where unity in diversity, religious coexistence and national harmony continue to prevail despite the instability and ethnic conflicts affecting many neighboring states.
4. Pursuing Independent Development
Eritrea’s leadership rejected dependency and resisted blindly copying foreign political or economic models. Instead, it pursued independent thinking and self-reliant approaches to nation-building and development.
This philosophy emphasized national ownership, critical thinking, and the mobilization of internal capacities rather than reliance on external prescriptions.
5. Advocating Regional Cooperation
In foreign policy, Eritrea consistently emphasized regional peace, cooperation, and mutual respect. While defending national sovereignty, Eritrean diplomacy sought partnerships based on equality and mutual benefit rather than domination or dependency.
Characteristics of the Eritrean Leadership
Visionary Leadership
From the beginning, Eritrean leaders envisioned building a genuinely independent and sovereign nation; a country founded on citizenship, inclusivity, and self-reliance.
Their vision extended beyond short-term solutions. They understood the importance of long-term planning, strategic patience, and national unity. Eritrea’s leadership has consistently emphasized the need for a peaceful regional environment, a stronger Africa, and a more just international order.
Rather than reacting impulsively to shifting political trends or alliances, Eritrean leaders have often focused on long-range consequences, weighing both opportunities and risks with caution and strategic foresight.
Dedication and Selflessness
One of the defining characteristics of Eritrean leadership is its culture of sacrifice and modesty.
Eritrean leaders have historically lived close to the people. During the liberation struggle, commanders fought alongside ordinary fighters on the front lines, carrying weapons and enduring the same hardships as their comrades. Even after independence, leaders continued to participate directly in national development campaigns and public works. In Eritrea, leadership is widely viewed not as a path to privilege, but as a duty of service and sacrifice.
Unlike many political elites around the world who live in luxury disconnected from the lives of ordinary citizens, Eritrean leaders are known for their modest lifestyles. Their families share the same schools, services, and national obligations as the broader population. Children of officials participate in national service alongside other Eritreans.
This culture of shared sacrifice fostered trust between the leadership and the people. Eritrean leaders are often seen attending funerals, weddings, public gatherings, and visiting citizens without extravagant security or displays of power. Their greatest protection has traditionally been the confidence and trust of the people themselves.
Experience and Competence
Eritrea’s senior leaders are products of decades of struggle, hardship, and practical experience. They developed expertise not only in warfare, but also in organization, diplomacy, popular mobilization, and state-building.
Tested by adversity and setbacks, they emerged with deep institutional memory and political discipline. Having experienced both victories and sacrifices, they maintained a grounded perspective and a strong sense of national responsibility.
Patience and Strategic Confidence
The Eritrean leadership has long maintained that nation-building is a complex and lengthy process that requires patience, endurance, and resilience. Their confidence stems from a profound belief in the strength and determination of the Eritrean people. President Isaias Afwerki has often remarked that it is during difficult times that Eritreans demonstrate their true character and resilience.
This trust in the people has largely been reciprocated by widespread respect and confidence in the leadership among many Eritreans.
The Foundation of Eritrea’s Stability
The story of Eritrea cannot be understood merely through the lens of war and geopolitics. At its core lies a unique relationship between a resilient population and a leadership shaped by sacrifice, discipline, and long-term national vision. It is this partnership between a steadfast people and an exemplary leadership that many Eritreans regard as the foundation of their country’s peace, unity, and endurance in the face of immense challenges.
A resilient population and an exemplary leadership: therein lies the enduring spirit of Eritrea.
Awet N’Hafash! النصر للجماهير
Victory to the Masses!
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