Boys at Asmara train station

Boys at Asmara train station, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

The BBC is running a Have Your Own Say at the moment, asking whether Eritrea is a force for destabilisation in the region (Horn of Africa and particularly Somalia). Totally predictable responses, mostly from the Ethiopian diaspora. Yet, the BBC has seemingly produced no evidence of the so-called destabilisation... easy journalism.

As far as I am concerned, Eritrea probably doesn't help matters too much, but it has never been a friend of the US (or rather the US has never been a friend of Eritrea) and I can't see how Eritrea can be as much of a destabiliing factor as the far greater Ethiopia, which is supported by the highest amount of aid coming from the West.

Still, the government of Eritrea seems to be quite repressive towards its own eople with regards to freedom of expression. The country seemed fairly empty four years ago and I wonder how people are managing to survive over there.