In a significant series of discussions held from September 4-6, 2024, the Ministry of Justice of Eritrea hosted a Dialogue Session themed “Justice, Development, and the Geopolitics of the Horn.” This event brought together legal experts and scholars to explore reforms aimed at strengthening Eritrea’s legal framework, which is seen as key to the nation’s sustainable development and regional cooperation. As part of this, Minister of Justice Ms. Fawzia Hashim emphasized that justice in Eritrea is deeply tied to national values and is critical to the country’s broader goals for economic and social progress.
These discussions come on the heels of President Isaias Afwerki’s remarks following his participation in the 9th China-Africa Cooperation Heads of State Meeting in Beijing. In an interview with a journalist from Eritrea’s state-run news agency, President Isaias Afwerki echoed similar themes, stressing that Africa must first address its internal issues, particularly economic and structural challenges, in order to fully benefit from external partnerships, including with China.
The president voiced his concerns that partnerships such as the China-Africa Cooperation risk turning into superficial public relations exercises unless African nations “do their homework” by solving internal problems. He pointed to Africa’s over-reliance on raw material exports and external borrowing, issues that perpetuate economic imbalances and debt dependency. In his view, without addressing these core challenges and ensuring stability, Africa’s potential for progress will remain limited.
President Isaias Afwerki’s emphasis on peace and stability aligns closely with the goals outlined during the Ministry of Justice’s Dialogue Session. Legal reforms in Eritrea, launched as part of an Action Plan in October 2023, focus on improving access to justice, enhancing the competence of legal personnel, and promoting public participation as part of
Eritrea’s nation-building efforts. During the event, key speakers such as Professor Makane M. Mbengue highlighted the dangers of “legislative inflation”—reforming laws without addressing actual needs—and urged aligning legal reforms with Eritrean values and the broader African context.
President Isaias Afwerki further underscored that no African country can develop in isolation. He called for regional cooperation and integration, stating that efforts must be made to pool resources and work collaboratively to address regional instability and foster collective progress. This message was reinforced at the Dialogue Session, where experts discussed Eritrea’s evolving geopolitical role in the Horn of Africa, transitioning from a country historically impacted by regional struggles to an influential player in shaping regional security and cooperation.
Both the summit in Beijing and the Dialogue Session in Asmara stressed the importance of regional collaboration. President Isaias Afwerki pointed out that organizations like the African Union (AU) and IGAD have not been effective in resolving Africa’s challenges, a sentiment echoed by the discussions in Asmara. Experts at the session stressed that Eritrea has the potential to play a leading role in promoting peace and development in the Horn of Africa, especially through legal reforms that are sensitive to regional and global geopolitical dynamics.
As both events highlighted, Eritrea is positioning itself to be a key player in regional integration and justice reform. However, as President Isaias cautioned, the success of partnerships, particularly with major powers like China, will depend on the continent’s ability to resolve its internal challenges and foster greater regional collaboration.
