Eritrea has a national constitution adopted in 1997, but it has not yet been implemented. The Eritrean National Assembly has not met since 2002.
Source: BBC
Former Eritrean Finance Minister Berhane Abreha has died in prison, his family has told the BBC.
Mr. Berhane Abreha has been arrested by Eritrean security forces since September 17, 2018 and detained in an unknown location.
Minister Berhane was picked up by the Eritrean security forces after he published a two volume book titled, “My Country, Eritrea,” which was openly critical of the Eritrean government’s policies at home.
He remained in custody without trial.
In his book, he called for the introduction of democracy and the need of re-convening the Eritrean National Assembly.
It is to be remembered that Mr Berhane Abreha had sent a message to President Isayas Afewerki and the people of Eritrea urging him to convene the surviving members of the National Assembly, resign peacefully and pass the reins of power to the people. He was of the opinion Eritrea could and should hold open debates regarding matters that shape its future.
In 2001, senior government officials known by the G-15 (Group of 15) made a similar request to the Eritrean president who were made to disappear off the face of the earth.
Eritrea has a national constitution adopted in 1997, but it has not yet been implemented. The Eritrean National Assembly has not met since 2002.
Even the ruling People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) has not held its follow-up congress for 30 years since its third party congress in 1994.
The Cabinet has not met since 2018.
Who was Berhane Abrehe?
Born in 1945, he studied in Eritrea and later in Ethiopia at the University of Addis Ababa. In 1972 he received a master’s degree from University of Illinois in economic engineering. In 1975 he joined the Eritrean freedom fighters.
He served in various high positions during the struggle. After independence, he served as the Director of Eritrean Macro Policy in the Office of the President. He was then elected to the National Assembly.
In the battlefields of Eritrea Berhane Aberhe served in various positions. After independence, he served as the Director of Eritrean Macro Policy in the Office of the President. He was also elected to the National Assembly.
Mr Berhane Abrehe served as Eritrea’s finance minister from 2001 to 2012.
He was removed from the ministry after he raised questions about transparency and accountability in the Bisha mining company’s revenue reports.
Berhane Abrehe is survived by his wife and three children.
