Of Eritrean citizens that were arrested in Kenya/Somalia and surrendered to Ethiopia, the one that has generated the most discussion in Asmara is that of Saleh Ghema. This is perhaps due to the fact that he is a TV personality well-known to Eritreans. Whether he is a journalist or a military officer is uncertain: Walta, his twice-a-week TV program, is produced by the Department of Defense. The show was designed to instill pride in the military accomplishments of Eritrea during and after the armed struggle by broadcasting their exploits. All the guests who appeared on the interview program are veteran fighters and members of the agelglot [national service.]

In January, Gedab News had reported that state media personnel who were in Somalia to televise the anticipated victory of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) had disappeared in December when Ethiopian forces overran the UIC. 

The Desertion Continues

Notwithstanding the Eritrean regime’s directive to shoot on sight anybody caught fleeing to Sudan and Ethiopia, nearly 600 Eritreans, most from the 19th Round,  fled to neighboring nations in March. There are two new developments: contrary to previous practice, the youth are now escaping with their guns so they can shoot back at anyone shooting at them. Secondly, the flow to Ethiopia is increasing while that to Sudan is declining: the escapees reason that the regime is less likely to shoot at Eritreans fleeing to the militarized Ethiopian border than it is to the lax border with Sudan.

Cash Crunch

Meanwhile, in another signal that the regime has virtually depleted its hard currency reserve, the president’s office, which has sole control on approving currency requests, has denied the requests of Sopral and Tele companies and they have began discharging employees. Asmara Brewery, one of the few profitable companies is also facing the same restrictions and cannot import raw materials and is likely to begin laying off employees.  Asmara Brewery was considered so successful that the government claimed that it was issuing parents of martyrs stocks in the company although, as usual, there has been no follow-up report on this alleged stock or dividend distribution since it was announced with much fanfare five years ago.