Addis Ababa, October 16, 2026 (FMC) — Eritrea’s authoritarian system has turned the country into a living hell for its youth, suppressing development, democracy, justice and investment while driving young people to flee their homeland, Yoel Yohannes, Head of Diplomatic Mission of the Eritrean Blue Revolution People’s Movement, has said.
In an exclusive interview with Fana Media Corporation (FMC), Yoel said the authoritarian system led by Isaias Afwerki, which he described as having controlled Eritrea as personal property for 35 years, had isolated the country from the rest of the world and become the principal enemy of the Eritrean people.
He argued that the absence of development, democratic governance, justice and investment had deprived Eritreans of the foundations necessary for national progress and a viable future.
According to Yoel, the regime’s continued repression is also linked to its fear that Eritreans, if granted peace and social freedom, would begin demanding the development and living standards they see in Ethiopia and other neighboring countries. He said this fear had contributed to the perpetuation of insecurity, leaving the population under constant pressure.
Beyond its domestic consequences, he said, the government’s repressive policies had made Eritrea a source of instability in the wider region, extending the impact of its rule beyond the country’s borders.
Yoel also highlighted the continuing flight of Eritrean youth seeking to escape the authoritarian system. He said Ethiopia had continued to serve as a refuge for Eritreans during difficult times, providing a place of safety for people fleeing their country.
He stressed that lasting peace and development in Eritrea would remain unattainable as long as the Isaias-led system remained in power. He said the regime had damaged the country’s economy, diplomacy and international standing, leaving Eritrea facing deep-rooted political and economic challenges.
Calling on Eritreans living across the world, Yoel urged them to rise against the authoritarian system that, he said, had effectively rendered their people stateless and deprived them of a secure future in their homeland.
His remarks underscore the distinction between the Eritrean people and the political system governing them, as well as the wider regional consequences of Eritrea’s prolonged political repression and the continuing exodus of its young population.