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From Cuba to Eritrea: Extending the Conversation on Failed Sanctions





From Cuba to Eritrea: Extending the Conversation on Failed Sanctions


By Dr. Samuel Mahaffy


From the U.S. White House today, President Obama correctly acknowledged in regard to sanctions against Cuba that “isolation has not worked” and that it is time for a “new approach.” Listening to his speech, I reflect that nearly every statement made in regard to the ineffectiveness of sanctions against Cuba apply equally and accurately to sanctions against Eritrea.

I take each of several statements President Obama made in regard to relations with Cuba and substitute the word Eritrea for Cuba. In regard to Eritrea, it is surely the case that “isolation (of Eritrea) has not worked. It is time for a new approach.” Eritrean people have made an enormous contribution to life in the United States, just as the Cuban people here have.

As is the case with our failed policy of isolating Cuba, it is completely true that our policies of isolating Eritrea have gotten us nowhere.

As President Obama extended to the Cuban people a hand of friendship, I suggest that it is time for the U.S and the world to extend a hand of friendship to Eritrea and the Eritrean people. It is time to place the “interests of the people of both countries at the heart of our policy.” Increased commerce is good for both the American and the Eritrean people.

In normalizing relationships with Cuba, the United States catches up with the rest of the world in recognizing the ineffectiveness of sanctions and the value of normalized relationships. It is time for the United States to equally catch up with members of the global community who are establishing diplomatic relationships with Eritrea that are respectful of the values and priorities of the Eritrean people.

Cuba has not co-opted its own values and governance as it moves into a new era of normalized relationships. Neither should Eritrea. The right of Eritrea to self-determination must never be sold to the highest bidder.

In regard to Cuba, President Obama states: “We are making these changes today, because it is the right thing to do.” It is equally the right thing to do for the U.S. to join the global community in ending failed policies of seeking to isolate Eritrea. President Obama states that “our policies toward Cuba have gotten us nowhere.” Neither have our policies or our stance toward Eritrea.

In the interests of peace and justice, it is time for the U.S. and the world to support the ending of sanctions against Eritrea. Isolation, as an approach to international relations and conflict resolution, simply does not work. That is the case with Cuba. It is equally the case with Eritrea. Rather than isolation, the world is better served by respectful dialogue and engagement.

__________________________________

Dr. Samuel Mahaffy was born and raised in Eritrea. He is a U.S. citizen who has been involved in conflict transformation work for several decades. He received his Ph.D. from Tilburg University in the Netherlands. Samuel Mahaffy posts regularly on topics relating to Africa, Eritrea particularly, and peacemaking on his website at www.samuelmahaffy.com.




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From Cuba to Eritrea: Extending the Conversation on Failed Sanctions Reviewed by Admin on 10:44 AM Rating: 5

54 comments:

  1. Truth triumphs over deceit! The Sun rises on the East; Eritrea is rising. Wedi Adey!
    Keep it up doc!

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  2. This historic moment only came to light because of the strong commitment of the Cubans's coupled with the failure of the USA to be the policeman of the world. Not because of the goodwill of the americans. Hence we dont have to dream for them to be a good semaritan after all this time. When the time which is painful to them as to what is to us now comes, they will bow like they did now with cuba. Long live ERITREA trully the Cuba of Africa

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  3. I completely agree with you. Also timing is everything and it may be that this was the right time for the US and other Western countries to realize that what mischieve they were doing against many third world countries, did not achieve whatever selfish interest they were designed to. I even heard that they will announce that the Palestinian Hamas group was no longer a terrorist group?

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  4. Yes but you can't compare Cuba with Eritrea. In Cuba's case only the US and it's allies sanctioned Cuba. In the case of Eritrea, it is the whole world under the directive of the Security Council. The sactions on Eritrea are restricted to (1) Arms Embargo, (2) Assets Freeze of the Ruling clan and (3) Travel restrictions on the ruling clan. That's it! No economic sactions, no the right of movement of the people sactions, no restrictions on Eritrea attending and participating in all the international organization the country is a member of. Get it right people and stop smoking a fantasy pipe - twisting facts to fit into your self-delusion of seeing yourselves in the mirror as a world power the US and it's allies are using all their mights and resources to destroy. You're embarrasing yourselves!!! Look at Russia, with all it's natural, economic and human resources beginning to buckle under economic sactions. THAT is a definition of an economic sactions. If the US or Ethiopia for that matter wanted to destroy Eritrea, it would be like swatting an annoying fly.

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  5. Your just to dumb to understand the world around you!

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  6. Ayeeee Agame, keep barking !!! Woof, woof ... wusha wedi kelbee.

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  7. Alula? Who better to speak of man of mice and flies none other than your junior cadet woyane?
    " hade dmu n'sheeh anatzu, hade fleet n'sheeh hamema!" Ala woyane; "swatting an annoying fly." Indeed.
    Notice, i have refrained from calling you "Rasless."

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  8. Wedi Mai Telamit, where were you in the 4 years? It has been 4 years since the sanction against Eritrea has been reduced to a bite from toothless dog. Dream on or go Debre Damo to pray to your devils for help!


    As for Eritrea, stay around for the land of the can do people is only to march forward and in the process the Africans are to head to Eritrea to learn how build a nation from ground up

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  9. ብዛእባ፡ኤርትራ፡ክትዛረብ፡ኮለካ፡ቁሩብ፡ብዛእባ፡ኤርትራ፡ፈሊጥካ።እንበር።ሱቅ፡ኢልካ፡ፅንፅውያይ፡ትዛረብ፡እንተኮንካ፡እዚ፡አጋሚኖ።እንታይ፡ኢዩ፡ዝብል፡ዘሎ፡ክብሉካዮም።

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  10. As Eritrean proverbs say"lord protect me from those who love me and I will protect my self from my enemies" in my censer opinion nothing is changed, its only a new tactic,hope I am wrong,but I doubt .imperialist they don't change their mind set to control or subjugate. the Yankees is only acting more astute, but el guerriero della Serra Maestra is more wiser.
    La lotta continua!!

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  11. Thank you Brother Dr. Samuel Mahaffy. On international politics. I have to say I was happy with President Brack Obama for the first time. Perhaps it is time for Obama to start delivering the changes he promised.

    We are now in a situation where monitoring group had admitted there was No evidence for Sanctioning Eritrea. The real situation about the human right in Eritrea has also been told by independent. Even though it has been unpalatable by some Eritrea haters:

    http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/12/17/denmark-eritrea-immigration-report-deeply-flawed

    It may be the best time for campaigning for Ethiopia to Live Badme and for the Sanction to be lifted.

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  12. Who let the Agame Out Woof Woof Ezi Wusha Tiray Aykonen. Anchiwa Eyu

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  13. Change is coming but for their own interest

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  14. It took 58 years for this to happen and mind you unlike Eritrea Cuba invested heavely in education and rich in resources

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  15. The above message is direct to Rus Alula, the Wedi Mai Telamit and not to Forto Sawa.

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  16. You are just as crooked and untrustworthy as your feudal Ras Alula - the cheater! Kalu zeyekbr, bhasot zmihl wedi may telamit!

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  17. You are just so detached from reality! Eritrea invests 43% of its budget for education. hji eza haki ezia gosimka meshet ilka twexie! Meshete!

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  18. Release the prisoners, you stupid idiots.

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  19. ya ya ya thanks to Putin you bring NATO to Ukraine i will come next door to you to Cuba.In order to take away cuba from Putin they have to normalize relationship with Cuba.its not good will its politics tit for tat

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  20. Eritrea has budget?
    What organs of the government (gang) formulate and approve it?

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  21. Wow it's after half century , it's good move thank u Obama

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  22. Yep! The same gang that moved a mountain and defeated both superpowers of the day. What says you, sam? We are playing it again! Now go and suck on a lollipop.

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  23. Mahaffy,
    You ought to be sent to prison in Eritrea like those thousands languishing without due process.

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  24. Thanks dr. Mahaffy as usual, it's nice move toward a change.
    "To err means, to err twice" so hope the us administration will avoid persist on erring elsewhere in the world (including Eritrea of course) cause it might take another century and the result wouldn't be different than that of CUBA. Resistance.

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  25. ቀዲምካኒ!! _ _ "ya ya ya thanks to Putin you bring NATO to Ukraine i will come next door to you to Cuba" _ _ :) _ _ እንበኣር በይነይ ኣይኰንኩን፧

    ንክሊ እዛ መሰረተ- ሓሳብ ብዝድህስስ፣ ኣብ Dehai.org - DMB ዝጀመርክዎ ዕላላይ ኣስፍሕ ኣቢለ ምቕጽለይ ዘይተርፍ ግቡአይ'ዩ።

    ReplyDelete
  26. Don't beg the USA to lift the sanctions while the sanctions are imposed by the UN. The case of cube is different. The sanction is by the USA. What do you mean when you say '...sanctions against Cuba apply equally and accurately to sanctions against Eritrea.?' Rather join the fight to topple the dictator president of Eritrea. Wake up!

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  27. the sanctions are hurting Cuba pretty badly even if it's not working. the cities look rundown

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  28. Dr.Mahafay,
    When is the ruling regime in Eritrea to realize the ineffectiveness of its sanctions against Eritrean people regarding basic human rights and freedoms??????

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  29. Agazian, you are lying because PFDJ's Eritrea since its independence has never announced a budget.

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  30. Eritrea does not need USA or Ethiopia to destroy it, because it is already being destroyed by the ruling mafia regime.

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  31. Hopefully the desire to change will be honest, even though we can't rely on politik, which normally a bad game for humans

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  32. But you can say CUBA resisted to bow the usa and be independent..it's fair..

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  33. Amin, Yes I know. That's why no one can come up with a coherent and logical rebuttal to my posting. Just insults and angry venting and name calling. All it does is show how hopeless Eritreans are.

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  34. Ras Alula, please, don't call these supporters of the mafia regime ERITREANS, they don't even deserve to be called humans.

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  35. true but if those sanction are lifted the Cubans are gonna rush too Florida. people don't care about politics as long as they have jobs

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  36. Who told you Cubans do not have a job? Cuba is not investing on fancy old Villas old buildings, It is investing in its people health and education. Do you know how many Americans are graduating from Cuban medical school every year? So we know who is rushing were to get free education. Please do not be blinded by American empty propaganda.

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  37. Here is the only country in Africa that provide free education up to college level. You bet the only country in Africa that provide free education up to college level is Eritrea. Free education for all, all the way to college level, that is the Eritrean way, By the way, 45% of the Eritrean budget is spent for education. Please, if you could not talk about a fact that is well known by every body, including the HASUS, the best thing to do is to shut up. Get this fact, if not get the hell out of here.


    Do you know your are your worst enemy. When you post trash like what you did above; do you know what the rest of HASUS would say? They will say "such liars and idiots are the one I to believe"

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  38. not everybody wants or can be a doctor plus a lot of the jobs don't pay a lot. Cuba has big problems thats not propaganda it's clear as day, right wing or left wing. as i said when the embargo is lifted a lot of people would leave Cuba why? because money thats why. Cuba should do what china did

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  39. No worries bro, the wedi mai telamit knows exactly who you meant.

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  40. May be later, I prioritize getting my lollipop sucked by an orphan in one of the refugee camps in the north. I think she said our troops killed her parents in 2000. He hates us so much but has no where to go.

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  41. There is no university, remember? What is in store for the Eritrean youth? 18 to life .

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  42. forget it. who will care for your trash country?

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  43. Ras Alula, I instruct you to go to the shabistan republic of Shaboland and liberate our northern people from the buda club of Shaebeasts. All the might and troops of Shoa and other parts of the country will be at your disposal. If you ignore my instruction, I swear in the name of saint Merry, I will not leave you alone. Eradicate all Shaboons and open up my ports.

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  44. Dr Mahaff is an honorable person with full of wisdom, you run away from building the nation,now where ever you may be living things is not as you expected so, you wanted to take your faults out of the Govt of Eritrea. It is better to shut your big mouth and keep on slaving for whom ever may be.

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  45. I do not think you read the last paragraph of my comments above. To force you to read it again, here it is:

    "Do you know your are your worst enemy. When you post a trash like what you did above; do you know what the rest of HASUS would say? They will say "such liars and idiots are the one I to believe"".



    You got to be an idiot to say there is no university/colleges in Eritrea. Do you know a university is just a collections of colleges in one "campus', Then again, why am I expecting a lot from a dummy,


    By the way, what is in store for Eritrean youth is "free education for all" from elementary school to university/college level. Do not take my word for it, just head home a see the free education for all in Eritrea.


    By the way, if you are unable to speak the truth, the best you could is to shut up before some of the HASUS say, "am I to believe and follow this idiot"

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  46. How are you comparing China with Cuba whom adored 50 yeas embargo, assassination attempts, and harassments from super power only 80 mils country called the USA. regarding low paying job in Cuba, We all know that a laborers with one job in America barley able to pay their rent and most live on church food( Food bank).

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  47. Oh Forto, when will you grow up?? "Oh boy!! Mommy Forto didn't call me "Rasless" today. I think I'll go outside and play with him! Oh boy!!" Grow up! You don't seem to be able to compose rebuttals without name-calling. If you're going to throw insults atleast do it with some sophistication, so you don't look like a playground bully.

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  48. What is that gibberish at the end of your sentenece?!? Why does everybody assume I'm Tigrayan. I AM NOT!!!! Get it through your thick skulls! Damn!

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  49. That is very true. You have a good point. No one who values the lives of his father, mother, brothers and sisters and not to mention his/her forefathers who fought for freedom will support the Butcher of Asmara.

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  50. "one job in America barley able to pay their rent and most live on church food( Food bank)."
    you mean food stamps? as an American who grew up working class it's not really bad.

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  51. Terry/Tefery said
    "as an American who grew up working class it's not really bad"
    really? Last weak you told the reader you are Nigerian and now you forgot and telling us you are American. by the way if you was what you claim you should have known the difference between Food Bank and Food stamps. You are fooling no body but yourself, Weyane scam bag

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  52. your crazy? im black american do i look like an northern Ethiopian? prove i said that i was nigerian

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  53. You know i live in italy, and as curious person i ask to the migrants from east europe about their life in the new EU post 1990 (fall of berlin wall). The majority are deluded cause they were thinking to get their life better in many sides. One observation: they are discriminated more than africans in many EU countries..

    ReplyDelete

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