The political and economic crisis that has hit Eritrea has begun to affect the elite, including the five pillars of the regime. This crisis, in turn, is contributing further to exacerbating their long-standing feuds and, consequently, there is a sense in Eritrea that nobody is in charge and problems are festering with nobody attending to them. 

The Five Pillars of the PFDJ are (1) Yemane Gebreab, PFDJ’s Director of Political Affairs; (2) Abdella Jaber, PFDJ’s Director of Organizational Affairs; (3) Hagos “Kisha” Gebrehiwet, PFDJ’s Director of Financial Affairs; (4) Zemehret Yohannes, Director of Cultural Affairs (Research & Documentation) of the PFDJ; and (5) Alamin Mohammed Said, Secretary of the PFDJ. The power of the five pillars is checked by an assortment of ministers who are ascendant or descendant depending on the whims of Isaias Afwerki, the chairman of the PFDJ. 

This permanent tension has ensured not only a one-party monopoly in Eritrea but a one-man political party where Isaias Afwerki is the absolute ruler of the country. But occasionally, as was the case with the development of the “G-15”, this tension snaps and the ruling party and the country go into a crisis. Some observers indicate that this may be underway in Eritrea now. 

The Signs

The directors of the party’s political affairs and organizational affairs, Yemane Gebreab and Abdella Jaber, respectively, are at odds and virtually not on speaking terms. The cause is attributed to their varying approaches to the case of Eritrea-based Sudanse and Ethiopian opposition groups, particularly the issue of Darfur, Sudan. Abdella Jaber had been attending to the Sudanese issue for over a decade but when the Eastern Sudanese reconciled with the Khartoum regime, it was Yemane Gebreab, who enjoys the strong confidence of Isaias Afwerki, who was chosen to be final arbiter.   

This was also the case when Haile Woldensae “Derue”, in jail since 2001, was negotiating the Algiers Agreement with Ethiopia in 99-00. Although Haile was the Foreign Minister and Yemane had no portfolio in the government, it was Yemane, in consultation with Isaias Afwerki, who had the final say on approving or disapproving the fine points of the agreement.  

Meanwhile, Hagos Kisha, the director of financial affairs, is at odds with several ministers including Berhane Abrehe, the Minister of Finance;  and Giorgis Teklemichael, the Minister of Trade and Industry. Macroeconomic issues, the points of contention, are usually resolved by a senior presidential advisor—such as Woldai Futur, the Director of National Development--but Isaias Afwerki, who tends to judge his subordinates’ competence based not on their expertise but their willingness to agree, has made the post irrelevant and has allowed the squabbling to continue.  

Two of the five pillars, Alamin Mohammed Said, PFDJ Secretary and Zemehret Yohannes, its Director of Research and Documentation, are in bad health and their offices are virtually unattended. Zemehret Yohannes has been to Italy for hospitalization for a prolonged period and Alamin Mohammed Said is reportedly in Dubai for hospitalization for cardiac-related illness. 

Regardless of their official titles, the primary role of Alamin and Zemehret was to enforce party discipline on the party-faithful and their absence has left the party adrift and in the hands of junior cadres. 

Hzbawi Mekete, Saudi Arabian Edition 

PFDJ activists are planning to enforce a “voluntary” resolution on the residents of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to contribute 50% of their income to the so-called Hzbawi Mekete, [popular resistance] now scheduled for March 14, 2008.   

For weeks now, the organizing committee has been rehearsing the scheduled meeting down to the minutest detail including: who will be the first speaker; who will ask the first question; who will make the first symbolic contribution; and who will make the emotional appeal for the contribution.  

The scheduled event was foreshadowed by a meeting that Yemane Gebreab had with residents of Dammam and Bahrain where a PFDJ organizer had suggested that all Eritreans contribute one month’s salary.   

The proposal was not welcome by the attendants who complained about rising expenses—rent, residence permit (iqama), inflation and unemployment.  Yemane Gebreab excused himself and told the local community organizers to reach their own decision on the appropriate amount.  He then had a separate meeting with the “community leaders” mandating the minimum requirements.   

Two weeks later, the community organizers in Demmam, Bahrain and Jeddah mandated a 50% minimum, while encouraging residents to contribute more. 

The residents of Riyadh are expected to follow suit.

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