In the last two years, Birged Nhamedu, a group masquerading as peaceful human rights defenders, has wreaked havoc across Europe and North America. Under the guise of opposition to the Eritrean government, they have orchestrated violent disruptions at cultural events, leaving a trail of physical and emotional trauma. Yet, despite their claims of noble intentions, their actions betray a darker agenda rooted in terrorism and political manipulation.
Their coordinated attacks, which span continents, have left hundreds injured and countless more shaken by the senseless violence. These assaults, meticulously planned on a global scale, have received unwarranted support from so-called champions of democracy, who lend legitimacy to Birged Nhamedu’s reprehensible behavior. Only in Edmonton, Canada, have authorities stood firm against these acts of terror, rightfully absolving the Eritrean community of any blame for the chaos instigated by Birged Nhamedu.
The Facade of Peaceful Activism
Media outlets, complicit in perpetuating false narratives, have attempted to rationalize Birged Nhamedu’s violence by citing supposed repression in Eritrea. Prominent figures like Mirjam van Reisen and Martin Plaut, claiming expertise on Eritrea, have propagated baseless accusations, providing a flimsy pretext for Birged Nhamedu’s assault on the Eritrean Festival. Their aim? To stifle cultural expression and disrupt these cherished community gatherings, all while Birged Nhamedu’s leaders, Yohanes Abraha and Beyene Gerezgiher, reside comfortably in the Netherlands. They openly threatened to attack anyone who visits these festivities. Despite mounting evidence of their true terroristic objectives, the mainstream media has failed to investigate the group’s dubious identity, which serves as a smokescreen for their insidious agenda.
Exploiting the ‘Refugee Crisis’?
Professor Mirjam van Reisen has spent over two decades actively undermining the Eritrean government and promoting regime change, seemingly indifferent to the genuine wellbeing of Eritrean citizens, while focusing solely on refugees—the central subject of her academic career. Her persistent efforts, supported by supposedly ‘objective’ publications and the establishment of think tanks, have consistently advocated for policies that isolate Eritrea and fuel the exodus of its citizens – a sentiment echoed by Barack Obama in 2012. By pushing for special treatment of Eritrean refugees and facilitating their resettlement in Western countries, she has inadvertently contributed to the influx of migrants from various African countries, claiming to be Eritrean, including a significant number from the Tigray region in Ethiopia. In doing so, she exploits the plight of genuine asylum seekers to further her own agenda, exhibiting a troubling pattern of white saviorism and disregard for the complexities of the situation—an issue we intend to explore in greater depth in a forthcoming article.
Influence Beyond Academia
Professor Van Reisen’s influence extends beyond academia; she has actively supported Birged Nhamedu through social media advocacy, radio appearances and her think tank, EEPA. Her orchestrated conferences, where ‘opposition groups’ convene, serve as platforms for disseminating anti-Eritrea rhetoric and campaigning for international intervention.
Joining her in this campaign is Professor Kjetil Tronvol, another self-proclaimed ‘Eritrea expert’ from Norway. Tronvol aligns himself with the anti-Eritrea camp, echoing van Reisen’s calls for regime change and perpetuating the narrative of Eritrean repression. His assertion that clashes in the diaspora serve as a “training ground” for opposition forces underscores the reckless agenda of those intent on destabilizing Eritrea. Such warmongering language not only emboldens violent elements but also perpetuates harmful racist stereotypes about Africa’s susceptibility to conflict and chaos.
Deafening Silence
In light of these relentless efforts to vilify the Eritrean government, one would expect an equally vehement response to the presence of President Isaias Afewerki at the Italy-Africa Summit, hosted by Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome. After all, according to van Reisen and her ilk, Afewerki stands accused of perpetrating genocide in Tigray, creating an open-air prison, and engaging in human trafficking of his own people. Not to mention the so-called ‘extortion’ of the 2% diaspora tax of European citizens and the alleged intimidation of the diaspora and their relatives at home. Yet, the deafening silence from Birged Nhamedu and its supporters in the face of his attendance speaks volumes. It seems their commitment to ‘justice’ and ‘human rights’ wanes when confronted with the opportunity to confront the very figure they vilify on the world stage.
While they clamor for the removal of the president of Eritrea, accusing him of heinous crimes, they remain conspicuously silent as he participates in diplomatic discussions aimed at fostering development and curbing migration. Where are the protests now? Where is the righteous indignation that once fueled their violent outbursts?
Selective Outrage
As the dust settles and the truth emerges, it becomes clear that Birged Nhamedu is not the champion of human rights it claims to be. It is a pawn in a larger game, manipulated by self-serving individuals like Mirjam van Reisen, who seek to destabilize Eritrea for their own gain. This ironic omission highlights the selective outrage and hollow rhetoric that underpin the anti-Eritrea agenda. While they clamor for action against Afewerki from afar, their silence in his presence speaks volumes about the true nature of their cause. It appears that their commitment to justice is contingent upon the convenience of their narrative, rather than the principles they claim to uphold.
It becomes apparent that Briged Nhamedu’s activities are emblematic of deeper geo-political agendas. The orchestrated violence and manipulation of media narratives serve not only to destabilize Eritrea but also to advance the interests of external actors seeking to exert control over the region. Mirjam van Reisen, Martin Plaut, Kjetil Tronvol, and their network of journalists, academics and policy makers operate within a framework that prioritizes regime change and geopolitical dominance, using human rights concerns as a pretext for their actions. By exploiting the suffering of Eritrean refugees and perpetuating false narratives of oppression, they obscure the complexities of the situation and perpetuate a cycle of conflict and instability.
The Hypocrisy of Birged Nhamedu
At the heart of this issue lies a fundamental question of sovereignty and self-determination. The people of Eritrea have the right to determine their own future free from external interference and manipulation. The actions of Birged Nhamedu and their supporters undermine this principle, seeking to impose their will through violence and coercion.
In the face of such challenges, it is incumbent upon us to remain vigilant and critical of the narratives presented to us. We must interrogate the motivations behind these actions and demand accountability from those who seek to manipulate public opinion for their own gain.
Ultimately, the struggle for justice and human rights requires a commitment to truth and transparency. By shining a light on the hypocrisy of Birged Nhamedu and its supporters, we take a crucial step towards reclaiming the narrative and advocating for genuine change rooted in principles of justice and equality. The time has come to expose their deceit and hold them accountable for the chaos they have sown.