By Beyene Gerezgher
The Ethiopia branch of Brigade Nhamedu (also known as the Blue Revolution Movement) will host a vital conference in Addis Ababa on January 25, 2025. The event will bring together Brigade Nhamedu leaders and representatives from the U.K., Europe, Canada, Uganda, and other countries. It will provide a valuable opportunity to assess the movement’s progress and strategize its future direction.
Addis Ababa, home to over 200,000 Eritrean refugees and located near Eritrea, serves as an ideal venue for the conference. Distinguished guests, including leaders from other Eritrean pro-democracy movements and a representative from the Addis Ababa administration, are expected to attend. I am honored to be an invited guest speaker and look forward to contributing to this important event.
Brigade Nhamedu is a diaspora-led initiative dedicated to achieving democratic change in Eritrea. Since its establishment in 2022, it has raised global awareness of human rights abuses in Eritrea and played a key role in curbing regime-sponsored transnational repression in Western countries.
Addis Ababa: A Diplomatic Hub
Addis Ababa, as a diplomatic hub and home to the African Union, provides a significant opportunity for the organisation, and individuals like myself, to engage in regional diplomacy.
With inevitable change on the horizon in Eritrea, a fragile region, ensuring a peaceful transition that promotes stability in Eritrea and the broader region is paramount. I look forward to using this trip to fostering meaningful cooperation with Western and African diplomats for our shared interests.
About Mr. Beyene Gerezgher
Mr. Beyene Gerezgher is a survivor of human trafficking in Libya, a former refugee who became a Dutch citizen, and a passionate advocate for Eritrean rights. Over the past decade, he has led pro-democracy efforts through leadership roles, public speaking, and social media activism.
He has addressed legislative bodies such as the Dutch, Swedish, and European Parliaments to expose the Eritrean regime’s undemocratic practices and advocate for change.
In 2023, Mr. Gerezgher embarked on a five-city speaking tour in Canada, where he also engaged in diplomatic discussions with Canada’s Deputy Director of East Africa Global Affairs. In May 2024, he toured five U.S. cities, meeting with Blue Revolution members, U.S. State Department officials, and members of Congress to further his mission for democratic change in Eritrea.
Mr. Gerezgher, a devoted father of three, dedicates himself to both his family and his unwavering mission for Eritrea’s democratic future. He is determined to ensure that the sacrifices of hundreds of thousands of Eritreans, including his father, lead to true freedom, justice, and prosperity for the Eritrean people.
Author: Martin Plaut
