The United States is reportedly seeking to improve relations with Eritrea, known as the “North Korea of Africa.” The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 22nd (local time) that the Trump administration is considering easing some sanctions on Eritrea and restoring high-level diplomatic channels.
Although the U.S. has had diplomatic relations with Eritrea since its independence in 1993, exchanges are effectively suspended. This has been the case since the U.S. participated in international sanctions imposed by the United Nations in the mid-2000s due to Eritrea’s support for armed groups in Somalia.
One of the main reasons for the U.S. reconsidering its relationship with Eritrea is its geopolitical significance. Eritrea possesses a coastline of more than 1,100 km along the Red Sea and is strategically located between the Middle East and Africa. The geopolitical value of Eritrea has been highlighted, especially after discussions on the potential blockade of the Red Sea, an alternative route circumventing the Strait of Hormuz, supported by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, which lies across the Red Sea.
Nearby Djibouti hosts military bases of several countries, including the U.S., China, and France. Accordingly, Trump’s senior advisor for Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, reportedly met with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, acting as a mediator, to convey plans for lifting sanctions. Boulos also privately discussed ways to restore diplomatic relations with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki in Egypt late last year, according to the WSJ.
However, there are negative opinions within the U.S. regarding the easing of sanctions on Eritrea. Critics argue that it is inappropriate to arbitrarily ease sanctions on a country labeled as the “North Korea of Africa,” where human rights abuses are commonplace. Eritrea, under President Isaias Afwerki, who has maintained a dictatorial regime since becoming the first president over 30 years ago, is known for political repression, torture, and restrictions on religious freedom.
Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), pointed out, “When sanctions are lifted, there should be corresponding changes, but Eritrea has changed very little since 1993.”