Isaias Afwerki appears in Sudan; ends rumor of poor health

Since 2005, President Isaias Afwerki has been reported to have died over a dozen times by Eritrean opposition sites. Photo: PIA with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in Asmara - May 24, 2012

President Isaias Afwerki ends wild rumors of failing health

In yet another blow to their credibility, President Isaias Afwerki appears in the Sudan, ending a week-long rumor by the Ethiopian-backed Eritrean opposition sites that claimed the president is on life support.

The rumor, which was started by Asmarino.com, claimed the former guerrilla fighter was gravely ill and bedridden at an undisclosed hospital in the Middle East.

Long dismissed by the Eritrean diaspora as a mouthpiece of Ethiopia's administration, Asmarino.com is an opposition site that openly works with the Ethiopian regime to reverse the country's hard won independence.

Last August, the whistleblower site Wikeleaks leaked emails of US intelligence contractor describing Eritrean opposition sites as being Ethiopia TPLF friendly and Asmarino.com as being CIA backed.

#US intelligence contractor leaks suggest #Eritrea opposition sites are #CIA backed & #Ethiopia TPLF friendly. http://t.co/VYyAUeL1Ru
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) August 8, 2013

It is to be recalled, in 2004, Asmarino.com was caught plagiarizing a BBC South Africa rape story to deceive Western policy makers that rape of women is endemic in Eritrea and national service is a human rights abuse. Despite the story being completely fabricated, it's still cited by human rights organizations.

                                                            [click on image to enlarge]

On the left is Asmarino.com's plagiarized article, on the right is the original BBC article. 

President isaias Afwerki with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in Port Sudan - November 24, 2013

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