The Eritrean American community in the Washington, D.C., area and surrounding states will hold a massive rally today, February 22, 2010, to protest the Obama administration’s policy for the Horn of Africa in general, and Africa’s newest nation, Eritrea, in particular.
The rally, which is also expected to draw thousands of protesters from across the Mid Atlantic and Mid West states, is set to start at 10am, at Lafayette Park, in front of the White House. A similar protest will be held the same day in the West Coast, in San Francisco, CA.
These rallies are part of a world wide campaign, including Europe, the Middle East and Africa, to protest an unjust, illegal and reckless sanctions measure rammed by the Obama administration recently through the UN Security Council against Eritrea based on fabricated charges manufactured by this young nation’s traditional enemies, especially Ethiopia, with regards to Somalia. This misguided measure is a reflection of Washington’s disastrous policy for the Horn of Africa which has been crying for change for nearly two decades.
Eritrea, which was among the first nations to join the Coalition of the Willing in 2003, has made indelible contributions in the fight against terrorism in the Horn of Africa and surrounding regions. US and Eritrean national interests have a lot in common because both want to see this region free of terror and terrorists. However, the sanctions against Eritrea come after a 10 year hostile policy towards the new nation by successive US administrations in order to appease the murderous minority regime ruling Ethiopia today.