The United Nations Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, Mr. Guang Cong, has praised Eritrea’s constructive and principled role in promoting peace and stability in the region. In remarks carried by the Eritrean News Agency following his meeting with President Isaias Afwerki, Mr. Guang Cong expressed satisfaction with the “fruitful and meaningful discussions” held in Asmara and affirmed his full readiness to work closely with Eritrea toward sustainable peace across the Horn of Africa.
According to the Information Minister’s post, the meeting focused on regional dynamics and the urgent need for more effective and accountable international engagement. President Isaias reaffirmed Eritrea’s willingness to cooperate with the United Nations and other partners but stressed that any meaningful progress must be grounded in respect for sovereignty, equality, and African ownership of regional processes.
The President highlighted that the UN’s historical record in the Horn has been mixed, as peacekeeping interventions often failed to produce lasting results due to the absence of clear accountability frameworks and a lack of understanding of local realities. He noted that these failures stem not only from institutional weaknesses but also from a “flawed international order” that continues to marginalize the voices of independent nations such as Eritrea.
President Isaias further pointed to the deterioration of regional organizations like IGAD and the African Union, explaining that their original vision has been undermined by external interference. Instead of being platforms for African unity and problem-solving, they have too often become conduits for outside interests.
He also recalled Eritrea’s 2022 proposal for Sudan a “popular governance structure based on citizenship” as part of Eritrea’s sincere efforts to contribute to peace and stability in the neighboring country. That initiative, he said, was derailed by foreign meddling that deepened divisions and prolonged conflict.
Importantly, this high-level meeting between Eritrea and the UN envoy takes place against the backdrop of Ethiopia’s renewed and reckless rhetoric over sea access an agenda that violates international law and threatens to plunge the Horn of Africa into another needless and bloody crisis. Eritrea’s engagement with the UN at this moment signals not retreat but resolve: a determination to ensure that peace and legality prevail over expansionist ambition and destabilizing revisionism.
Mr. Guang Cong’s commitment to work with Eritrea reflects growing recognition of Asmara’s consistent call for principled, home-grown, and cooperative solutions. The meeting underscores that Eritrea, while critical of past injustices by global institutions, remains ready to engage constructively so long as the engagement upholds truth, sovereignty, and genuine regional stability.
