**Eritrea: A Legacy of Broken Promises Under Isaias Afwerki**

**Eritreans reflect on three decades of disappointment under a leader who once inspired them with promises of democracy and development.**

For the citizens of Eritrea, the celebration of independence from Ethiopia in 1993 marked the dawn of hope. Isaias Afwerki, then a youthful rebel leader, projected a vision of reform and democracy, pledging to lead the country towards a bright future. Yet, as the 79-year-old president nears his 32nd year in power, many Eritreans feel their dreams have been shattered.

Isaias now spends much of his time away from Asmara, the capital, residing in a secluded retreat. Power remains centralized under his authority, with the cabinet having not convened since 2018. His rural residence draws both local officials and ordinary citizens; the latter often leave disillusioned, their hopes for assistance unfulfilled.

In the wake of Eritrea's independence, optimism surged when Isaias spoke against entrenched dictatorships and championed democratic principles. He received global acknowledgment, including a visit to the White House from President Bill Clinton, who heralded Eritrea's early democratic strides. Initial reforms offered glimpses of a multiparty system as plans for a new constitution were underway.

However, the outbreak of war with Ethiopia in 1998 marked a turning point. Isaias leveraged the conflict to postpone elections and suppress dissent, effectively stifling the democratic aspirations he had once embodied. In a bold move against advocates for reform, he targeted the so-called G-15—a group of high-ranking officials calling for political change—arresting many who later vanished without a trace.

During the early 2000s, a spirit of partial freedom emerged, with criticism voiced through independent newspapers—until the government abruptly shut them down following the 9/11 attacks, plunging the nation into further repression. Critics, intellectuals, and anyone seen as a potential challenge to Isaias’s authority faced incarceration or worse, solidifying a regime that many now describe as autocratic.

As Eritrea became isolated on the international stage, Isaias downplayed humanitarian assistance, promoting a doctrine of self-reliance. The country’s economic struggles continue, hampered by infrastructure deficits and state dominance over market mechanisms. Meanwhile, Eritreans suffer under a system characterized by indefinite military conscription and state violence, prompting hundreds of thousands to flee seeking asylum beyond Eritrea's borders.

Despite widespread disillusionment, Isaias remains a polarizing figure, admired by a faction that views him as a guardian of national sovereignty against external forces. Yet, as he retreats further from public life, fears about the nation’s future grow. The issue of succession remains unresolved, as recent attempts to prepare his son for leadership have reportedly faltered.

As Eritreans await meaningful change with anxiety and despair, Isaias continues to embody a legacy intertwined with unfulfilled promises—a reminder of a hopeful past overshadowed by an oppressive present. For many, the prospect of freedom and democracy seems a distant possibility, locked away under the tight grip of a leader who has long shifted from national fulfillment to personal power.