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- China voiced its opposition to unilateral sanctions on Eritrea during a visit of its foreign minister Wang Yi to Eritrea, which lies in the Horn of Africa region.
- Last year, the United States slapped sanctions on Eritrea over the brutal conflict in neighboring Ethiopia
- Eritrea branded this as illicit and immoral. The charge against the country levelled by the US was that together with the Ethiopian forces, they have been carrying out rape and massacres in the war-hit northern region of Tigray
- Washington has repeatedly urged Asmara to withdraw its troops
China voiced its opposition to unilateral sanctions on Eritrea during a visit of its foreign minister Wang Yi to Eritrea, which lies in the Horn of Africa region.
Last year, the United States slapped sanctions on Eritrea over the brutal conflict in neighboring Ethiopia. Eritrea branded this as illicit and immoral. The charge against the country levelled by the US was that together with the Ethiopian forces, they have been carrying out rape and massacres in the war-hit northern region of Tigray. Washington has repeatedly urged Asmara to withdraw its troops.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with President Isaias Afwerki and Foreign Minister Osman Saleh yesterday (Wednesday) during the first leg of a three-nation African tour.
A joint statement signed during the visit said that both sides agreed to uphold the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom for all mankind. They also resolved to oppose hegemonic interference in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of democracy and human rights.
Wang will also visit Kenya and the Comoros. China has ramped up its involvement in Africa in its search for resources and has embarked on an infrastructure-building program under the so-called Belt and Road investment strategy.
China, as the largest trading partner of Africa with direct trade worth over US $200 billion in 2019, has a firm hold over Africa and some analysts say it has upstaged the West in that game. It may be recalled that Eritrea in November joined several dozen other African nations in signing up to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
