Domestic Problems First

First and foremost my sincere greetings here from Eritrea. I am one of the many followers of ChinaAfrica magazine. Through your magazine I am learning a huge amount about my own continent and China.

In your July issue one of your readers Isaac Anand from Namibia wrote a letter where he talked about African leaders being involved in the Middle East politics, particularly on the issue of Palestine. Explicitly the government of Israel recently had hampered aid from entering Gaza. I agree with my Nambian brother's constructive ideas. The action that was taken by the government of Israel was unacceptable and at the same time why have the African leaders not said a single word against the Israeli Government.

I would like to respond by saying that the reality is for all good African leaders to participate in international politics in a pragmatic way for the sake of peace. But first our African leaders should find a solution for the domestic problems of Africa. Forgetting about your own problems and then trying to participate in Middle East politics is nonsense.

A prime example of African leaders not solving their own problems is the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The border conflict between the two countries lasted from 1998 to 2001. After heavy fighting both countries signed an agreement in Algeria in 2001 where the agreement reached was final and binding. This agreement was reached under the auspices of the UN, the then OAU and the EU, so was recognized by the international community. The agreement was final and binding. The International Court in The Hague gave the final verdict. Despite this the Ethiopian Government has until now not abided by international law and invaded legitimate territory of Eritrea. So what I want to say to the writer from Namibia was that to date African leaders have not uttered a single word to the government of Ethiopia to vacate Eritrean territory. So because of the weakness of current African leaders the Eritrean and Ethiopian peoples are still caught up in this ongoing conflict. Had the decision reached by the International Court been adhered to both nations might today be living in harmony side by side.

Let African leaders first solve the problems at home before worrying about the Middle East.

Simin Hagos

Eritrea