What does the future of the Eritrean diaspora hold? What will its role be in national life 10, 15, or 25 years from now? The 25th anniversary of Eritrean independence is not only a moment to reflect on two and a half decades of history, but an opportunity to consider the future. This blog offers a few of the Eritrean Diaspora Network’s tentative hopes and aspirations for the Eritrean diaspora.
Aside from working to improve and mobilize the diaspora within our adopted home, EDN was also founded because we believe diasporas can be a critical actor in nation building. This is particularly true in the Eritrean case, where an estimated 25% of the population resides outside of the country’s borders. Migration has been a key factor in Eritrean history for many years, and yet our ties and engagement with our country have never wavered, regardless of the distance. Other immigrant communities, such as the Armenians, Indians, or Jews, demonstrate a symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationship that diasporas can have with their home countries. This is not to suggest that the diaspora should be a more significant economic, social, and political actor than those back home. It most certainly shouldn’t, and its importance to those in Eritrea pales in comparison. It is simply to say that the diaspora is one of the country’s many stakeholders.
The diaspora has significant potential in promoting the country’s economic, social, and political development. For instance, as the diaspora has grown and evolved, so has its financial capacity. This means that it can be an even greater catalyst in economic growth, above and beyond the 2 percent tax. Hopefully, in 25 years, the number of diaspora owned business in Eritrea has expanded, as has the number of skilled professionals who have returned to support these ventures. In the future, and under the right conditions, we hope that more can also be done to secure investment dollars from the diaspora in supporting the entrepreneurship of Eritreans back home. On this front, we are simply scratching the surface of our potential.
The diaspora is also a hotbed of new and innovative ideas. Many diaspora youth have attended the best schools, garnered experience in the best firms and corporations, and have worked with some of the world’s brightest minds. This is an enormous reservoir of knowledge that we hope will be more fully tapped in nation building going forward, and can be used to complement local knowledge and talent. Many diaspora youth are eager to bring their talents and resources to enrich their home country if given the opportunity.
While the diaspora has much to offer by being more fully engaged back home, it can provide a significant boost to the country by representing Eritrea abroad. The major challenge here, are the political divisions that exist within the diaspora. We hope that in time, these can be resolved, although we fully recognize the right of Eritrea’s diaspora citizens to pursue their own political preferences. What is important at the current time is that the diaspora show the world they are engaged with the homeland, and will do what they can to promote the country’s best interests as they choose to define it. Over the next few years, the diaspora will need to grow its political power in its adopted countries, so that the full impact of our advocacy for Eritrea can be felt.
Ultimately, the diaspora is a critical actor in Eritrea’s development. While the Eritrean Diaspora Network seeks to support the diaspora’s growth here in our adopted home, we recognize the diaspora’s potential back home. We hope that the diaspora, and its youth, will continue to build on a long history of engagement with the homeland and take it to new heights.