The story of an Eritrean economic migrant who betrayed his country

While Eritrean economic migrants use neighboring countries as a stepping stone to get to wealthy European countries, Ethiopian refugees come to Eritrea as a final destination to escape from poverty and human rights abuses from the Ethiopian regime - Photo: Tigrayan (Ethiopian) refugees inside Eritrea. Eritrea is quietly hosting tens of thousands of Ethiopian refugees and the number is growing by the day.

The story of an Eritrean economic migrant who betrayed his country

By Hidrom,

Here is a true story of one of my relatives who decided to cross deserts and swim the oceans to chase the wind and to achieve an unattainable dream. This is the story of young man who decided to flush his bright future down the drain. His story is the story of the very young Eritreans who are stranded somewhere between the Sahara Desert and coastlines of the Mediterranean Sea, or those who are hoarded like animals in Malta, Sicily; and worst of them all in Shimelba and other shanty towns of Ethiopia. His story goes like this:

Here was a bright young man who was given all the opportunity to achieve his dreams; all paid by the Eritrean people. Eritrea provided him all the good things on a silver platter. But here is a young man who flushed it away down the sewer. This is what you call a typical “ዝበልዓሉ ጻሕሊ ዝሰብር” ወይ ድማ “ዘይሓስብ ኣይንገድ” story!

As a young man, just like any other Eritrean child, this young man was given all the help and encouragement he needed to achieve the highest level of education in Eritrea. He was raised and nurtured both physically and intellectually to be “somebody” so he could help himself, his family, and in the process to help build Eritrea. All paid by Eritrea, just like any other Eritrean kid; he was educated, all the way from elementary school to college level for “free“. Yes by the “free education for all”, the noble Eritrean way,he was nurtured and groomed all the way to college level. I do not think this young man know how much the Eritrean people have sacrificed for this kid. I do not think he has understands the generosity of Eritrea.

Yes, you and I know what “free education” for all means in Eritrea. After six years of “free higher education” at Sawa and EIT Mai Nefhi, this young man graduated with the knowledge that was supposed to serve him and his country as long as he lived. The fruit of that “free education” was meant to change his generation and the generations to come for something better and bigger. Do not forget, this is “free college education” includes “free tuition“, “free textbooks“, “no laboratory fee“, “free dormitory“, “free food“, and “free medical” expenses. You bet, it is free education of Eritrea to her children, which is at the center of the Eritrean “ማሕበራዊ ፍትሒ”.

On the top of that, within a month after his graduation, this young man was duly employed; earning a handsome salary by all accounts. Yes, he was one of the “Warsai Generation” that are being groomed to be the “next generation” to build and to lead Eritrea. Yes, he was given all the knowledge and tools he needs to build him self as an individual and to build Eritrea as nation.

On the top that, he was in the “first batch” or the “second batch” of young men/women who were on standby to be sent aboard for “post graduate studies“- again all to be paid by Eritrea. Yes for M.S. and/or Ph.D level educational programs and all to be paid again by Eritrea. You bet, how far this young man could have gone and how high he could have climbed the ladder of success-the sky was the limit. And all that to be paid by Eritrea. I repeat, and all these were to be paid by Eritrea.

Unfortunately, instead of grabbing this “once in a life time opportunity“ and instead taking the initiative to benefit from it; this young man, for reason which is beyond me to accept, has decided to literally and figuratively “jump over the cliff”. There are no political, economic, social issues that could have pushed this young man to take these self-destructive measures. There is none what so ever. “ዘይሓስብ ኣይንገድ” ክብሉኻስ ከምዚ እዩ!

But out of the blue, this kid calls me from the Sudan; claiming to have left Eritrea illegally “to go school” some where in Europe. Leaving Eritrea illegally to go school in Europe!….? To go to college in Europe or USA?…..! I was stunned. I was angry and I was sad to see him throw his future down the drain. I know Eritrea has many sons and daughters that will take her to the “Promised Land” and Eritrea has patriotic sons and daughters that will never betray her no matter what. In fact Eritrea has been blessed by children who rise above and beyond the call of duty when it come to defending and building Eritrea. Eritrea has had and Eritrea still has “ኣነ ክሓልፍ ንስኻ ጽናሕ” ዝብሉ መንአሰያት.

You bet, Eritrea has had and Eritrea still has “ኣነ ክሓልፍ ንስኻ ጽናሕ” ዝብሉ መንአሰያት.

Although this young man is one of the few who betray their country, I was tempted to write him off. However, I was was angry and sad for doing this to him self. The damage to him self is done. But just satisfy my curiosity, the only thing left for me was to ask a bunch of questions which included:

1. Did you say, you left Eritrea illegally to attend college in one of the European countries? Hmmmmm….! 


2. Let me get this straight; do you truly believe you will be able to attend a “post graduate school” in one the European countries? Hmmmmmmmm! 


3. Do you know Europe is not Eritrea? In Eritrea, Eritrean kids go to school free all the way from kindergarten to college. In fact, Eritrea is the only African country where education, all the way to college level, is free. By now, I am quite sure you have already found out that there is no such thing “free” college education in Europe and USA. So who to pay for your education there? Hmmmmmmm! 


4. At this very moment, do you know Europe is unable to employ its youngsters let alone to send them to college. Here are the Young Europeans on the streets without jobs and education and here you are telling me there are elements in Europe inviting you to go school in Europe? Hmmmmmm! 


5. Do not forget, both in Europe and USA, you are expected to pay for your “tuition“, “dorm“, “textbooks”, “ food“, “clothing“, and “medical” expenses? Assuming you are accepted to attend “post graduate” education in Europe; then who to pay for your schooling? If you are hoping these elements are to pay for your education, then you must be living in dream world. This is the reality. The question is how much money is your father to shell out to pay for your schooling? 


6. If what you claim is a legitimate educational deal, how come they did not tell you your education in Europe is to be free before you leave Eritrea? Do not forget, to be accepted into a college any where in the world is one thing but who is to pay for this education is quite another. 


7. If this schooling is legitimate, how come they instructed you to go cross to the Sudan to complete the rest of the paper work? Why not they let you finish the paper work from within Eritrea and then you can leave from Eritrea legally without squandering a year or two of your time and your father’s money in the Sudan? 


8. Has it crossed your mind that this could be part of the grand scheme to lure young Eritreans to cross the border and leave them stranded between the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea? Have you read about the Eritreans which are hoarded in “prison camps without walls” in Malta, Sicily, and other islands of the Mediterranean for the last 8 to 10 years. In short, have you ever entertained there is such an evil scheme in full motion? You must know once you crossed the border, their job to scatter the African youth is done and please do not be shocked if you did not hear from them again!! I bet, you will never hear from them again; for their have done their job. 


9. You said your family gave you some money to cross to the Sudan. How many dollars did your father and other relatives shell out for this scandal? Are you telling me your father has all the money to send you all they way through the Sudan or the Sahara Desert to Europe? If money was not an issue in your family, then what was the inertia that drove to be in this predicament. Most certainly, it could not be “politically motivated” either for you have seen what Shaebia is doing to build a nation brick by brick. I do not have to lecture you on the nation building of Shaebia. 


10. One last question for you to entertain and contemplate. Are sure you are not a victim of some evil elements? There are elements who are engaged in evil schemes which goes: “to destroy a nation destroy the youth both from within and out. At this point in time, they are not to send and invading army to recolonize Africa but to destroy the future builders, leaders, and defenders of Africa (the African youth). Most definitely you are an African youth on target. 

These and some of the comments and the questions I asked him. To my shock, I was not able to get a single answer that makes sense. After these and some discussions, I gave him one and to the point advice. I told him to go home before it is too late. I told him to go home and ask forgiveness and start all over again. I told him, to not take my word for it; but to learn from those Eritreans that are stranded for 6, 8, and 10 years somewhere in the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean coast lines. As my relative, I wish him good luck on the journey to “no man’s land”.

Sponsored Ads