Nestled along the Red Sea coast, Eritrea's history is one of resilience, resistance, and resilience once more. It is a story that threads through centuries of foreign dominion, from ancient empires to European colonialism. Yet, at the dawn of the 21st century, it was a different kind of domination that gripped Eritrea--a grip not forged by foreign powers but by internal forces.
In 1993, Eritrea triumphantly declared its independence from Ethiopia after a protracted and arduous struggle. The world watched with hope as a new nation, born from the sacrifices of its people, promised to uphold democratic principles and respect for human rights. It was a dream shared by countless Eritreans who yearned for a just society where their voices could be heard and their rights safeguarded.