Eritrea and EU in diplomatic crises
Internal critique of President Issayas Afewerki for abuse of power and open letters demanding democracy and open and fair elections has led to a diplomatic crises between the small North African country and the European Union. So far, Italy and Eritrea have expelled each other’s ambassadors, reports the Danish newspaper Politiken.
The European Union has reacted by calling all its member states' ambassadors home for consultation and indirect threats of suspending all aid have been issued.
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The present crises, in poverty-stricken Eritrea who has been in an on-going violent border dispute with Ethiopia for decades, stems from the governments decision to arrest 11 former ministers and a number of independent journalists, as wells as 400 students.
The conflict with the European Union started when Italian ambassador Antonio Bandini on behalf of the European Union handed in a protest against the arrests. Mr Bandini was then accused on interfering in Eritrea’s internal politics and asked to leave.