Technology Transfer in Eritrea - Institute for African Development

The West’s yardstick for measuring the existence of democratic governance is elections
and the frequency of elections; the existence of political parties and written constitution; the
free expression of opinions, etc. Eritrean President Esaias Afeworki, on September 8, 1997
at Walton Park Conference, West Sussex, UK, said that “the contemporary debate on
democracy and the democratization processes in Africa should be much deeper and wider in
scope to include other fundamental dimensions and rights that are indispensable for the
dignity and full development of every citizen; the respect of his or her individual rights; and
for their social and economic welfare.” He outlined several fundamental principles that a
robust and participatory democratic system must incorporate. Among them are:
1) The right of every citizen to a fair share of national resources including access to basic
necessities and protection from hunger and deprivation;
2) The right to equal opportunity; including education and other services that are essential
for personal development;
3) The right for, and provision of, a responsible, transparent, and non-corrupt government to
uphold the rule of law and defend the national interest.
Demobilization of the army
The Eritrean army numbered 100,000 strong after independence. Such an amount, in a
time of peace, could not be supported by the government. The government demobilized the
army by two-thirds. Because the private sector could not absorb the 60,000 demobilized
fighters, the government had to give them start-up money for businesses or farming.
National Service Programs
A National Service Program was instituted requiring women and men over 18 to
undergo six months of military training plus a year working on reconstruction projects. The
purpose of this was threefold: 1) to compensate for Eritrea’s lack of capital and to reduce
dependence on foreign aid, 2) to continue to weld together the ethnically diverse society by
simulating the living and working arrangements of the war years, and 3) to place women
and men in conditions of relative gender equality.
Return of Refugees
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