Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷@hawelti
Keynote Address by President Isaias Afwerki on the Occasion of 35th Independence Anniversary
Asmara, 24 May 2026
*"...The establishment of a new global order founded upon fairness and justice must be regarded as one of humanity’s foremost missions and should not be relegated to the side-lines".
*"...Last year, I addressed issues in what we call our neighbourhood; specifically, the Nile Basin, the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and the Gulf, with particular reference to Ethiopia and the Sudan. Because the global vulnerability of the region has worsened, following the crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the importance of collective security mechanism based on an agreement and cooperation among the States in the neighbourhood – rather than the normalized interventionist policies of self-proclaimed regional powers and external actors – that we have been advocating for long has, once again, become abundantly clear. It is high-time that serious efforts are exerted towards this end".
*"...As it will be recalled, I had elaborated, during last year’s Independence Day celebrations, on our development programmes and priorities across various sectors. While the concept itself is not new, the short-term objective remains improving our people’s livelihood, with priority to marginalized and underserved regions. The broader and long-term development programme consists of extricating the country from subsistence economy. It encompasses strengthening productivity, ensuring sustainable growth in production, laying the foundations for advanced processing and value-added industrial manufacturing, and service sectors. Beyond the economic dimension, these priorities also extend to encompass the diplomatic and informational domains".
*"...Road and transportation projects will be expanded according to plan. Extensive housing programmes will also proceed in parallel. Implementation of projects aimed at expanding electricity and water services will start within this year in spite of potential delays in supply chains. In the sphere of social services, particular emphasis will be placed on education, beginning from the pre-school level with broad popular participation. Likewise, the expansion of quality healthcare services will be pursued vigorously".
*"...Kudos to the dedicated, hardworking, courageous, patient, and steadfast people of Eritrea, along with the ever-present Defense Forces; the kernel, strong shield, and cornerstone of our development programs. Even if obstacles are encountered, there is no cause for apprehension. Rest assured!"
shabait.com/2026/05/24/key…
