The Strongest Fence: National Unity as Eritrea's Bulwark Against War

 The Strongest Fence: National Unity as Eritrea's Bulwark Against War

by Semere Solomon

12 October 2025

In my August 22nd article, "A conflict that can be avoided," I detailed a political scenario with devastating implications for the Horn of Africa, particularly for the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia. I argued that the region is on the brink of a major military conflict, driven by political actors who share detrimental characteristics: serving narrow interests, political shortsightedness, using coercion against their own people, rejecting political pluralism, and viewing military force as the primary solution to disputes. Their alliances have been historically unstable and self-serving, marked by regional interference and proxy wars.

I identified several key escalating fault lines:

• The severe deterioration between the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) and Ethiopia's Prosperity Party (PP) was driven by the PP's obsession with maritime ownership in the Red Sea. This rivalry has expanded into a struggle for regional dominance, with both sides forming counter alliances.

• The unresolved 2020 war between the PP and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Issues of disputed lands,  internally  displaced people, and lack of services persist, while internal divisions within the TPLF lead factions to  forge alliances  with either PP or PFDJ, further victimizing the Tigrayan people.

• The PFDJ government’s refusal to pursue national reconciliation, implement a constitution, or recognize opposition forces  creates  instability masked by a facade of control.

I warned that a full-scale war could lead to rapidly shifting alliances, prolonged conflict with immense human suffering, Ethiopia's descent into chaos, and a region reshaped by external powers.

I conclude that this conflict is avoidable and call for political wisdom rather than military force. My recommendations are as follows:

• Prioritize the people's welfare over narrow political interests.

• The citizens of Ethiopia and Eritrea, at home and abroad, must resist war rhetoric, advocate for peace, and use social media to promote reconciliation and not hate.

• The IGAD, African Union, and global powers must exert diplomatic pressure for peaceful solutions.

• The Eritrean government must employ diplomacy  instead of  saber-rattling.

• Ethiopia's sea access must be pursued through dialogue and international law, while both nations must resolve their internal democratic deficits and build a relationship based on good neighborliness and mutual respect.

In this essay, I propose specific recommendations for the Government of Eritrea to enhance its national security by launching a diplomatic offensive against this imminent threat to minimize the risk of chaos that benefits no one.

National reconciliation as the bulwark against war

At this moment of existential threat, it is imperative to address the Government of Eritrea directly. The path of isolation, internal repression, and reactive saber-rattling has not only failed to ensure national security but has actively contributed to the precariousness of the current situation. There is no better time or more pressing need for a profound strategic shift. To navigate this crisis and secure the future of the nation, the government must immediately set aside its differences with the opposition and call upon all Eritreans to form an inclusive government of national reconciliation and unity.

The failure of exclusion and the imperative of unity

For decades, the Eritrean government has operated under a model of absolute control and exclusion. It has refused to implement the ratified constitution, rejected political pluralism, refused to release prisoners of conscience, and systematically silenced dissent since. This has created a façade of stability, masking profound internal discontent and a crippling lack of national cohesion in the country. A state at war with its own people cannot effectively confront external threats.

The Government must understand the reality on the ground. The strength of a nation facing an imminent threat does not lie solely in its military arsenal but in the unified will of its people. By continuing to treat a significant portion of its citizenry as adversaries, the PFDJ is fighting on two fronts—one internal and one external—and weakening its position on both. The "politics of exclusion" is a fatal luxury in this volatile hour. The imminent threat from Ethiopia’s reckless maritime ambitions demands a response that is stately and strategic, not merely militaristic.

A government of national reconciliation: the only viable path

This is not a plea for weakness, but a call for supreme strength—the strength that comes from unity. The government must demonstrate maturity and genuine care for its people by:

• Initiating an  unconditional national dialogue: Immediately call upon all Eritrean opposition forces, civic societies,  and religious  and intellectual leaders, both inside the country and in the diaspora, to form a transitional council for national salvation  with a genuine  intent to form a government of national reconciliation.

• Establishing a  government of  national unity: This inclusive body must be tasked with overseeing the crisis, representing a unified Eritrea in diplomatic efforts, and beginning the process of implementing the constitution and the rule of law.

• Releasing Prisoners of Conscience:  Emptying  the prisons of all political detainees. This is a fundamental act of good faith that would unleash the nation’s intellectual and moral capacity and rally the population behind a common cause.

Mobilizing for diplomacy, not just for war

A government of national unity can wield tools that an isolated regime cannot wield. The focus must be on robust diplomatic mobilization to stop wars before they begin.

A unified diplomatic front is required to address this issue. An inclusive government can legitimately knock on the doors of global powers—the US, EU, China, Russia, and the UN—and present a coherent appeal for peace and assistance. It can argue from a position of moral authority, representing all Eritreans.

Immediate action is required to leverage regional and international efforts to address this issue. With a unified voice, Eritrea can more effectively pressure the IGAD and the African Union to move beyond statements and exert real diplomatic pressure on Ethiopia to abandon its quest for maritime ownership and return to the framework of international law.

There is a pressing need to neutralize these proxy dynamics. A reconciled Eritrea committed to the rule of law is less fertile for external interference. It can deny Ethiopia and others the pretext to meddle in its internal affairs by presenting a stable and united front.

Conclusion: a final chance for legacy and survival

The Government of Eritrea stands at a historic crossroads, forced to confront the hard truth that its past policies precipitated this crisis. Decades of failure to build a constitutional state that tolerates dissent, create an economically viable nation, develop a defense doctrine centered on deterrence, and establish a reputation as a reliable partner for peace have left the nation profoundly vulnerable. 

Now is the time for wisdom, not arrogance; inclusion, not isolation; statecraft, not just warfare. The proverb, "The wise man builds fences before the wolf appears," has never been more relevant than now. The strongest fence Eritrea can build is one of national unity and reconciliation.

By opening up the political space and calling all Eritreans to the decision-making table on issues that concern their survival, the government can transform this moment of peril into an opportunity for national rebirth. This is the only way to secure peace for the people of Eritrea, protect the sovereignty of the nation, and ensure that future generations inherit a country defined not by perpetual war and autocracy but by stability, law, and mutual respect. The time to act is now.

Whether the government has the political will to listen to this call, that is, in view of galvanizing the support that the current situation demands, remains to be seen. I wish we had a government that heeds the hearts and minds of its citizens.