Eritrean exodus

one of the war’s unexpected outcomes was to entrench a peculiar siege mentality in the eritrean government that led to it imposing indefinite national service. this required all adult citizens to serve in the military for at least 18 months, and often longer. Although national service was useful during the 1998-2000 war, its overall impact on society has been negative.

with so many students and professionals trapped in uniform, the eritrean state has managed to cripple its economy and free enterprise. the resulting stagnation, matched with often-brutal recruitment practices, left many citizens with no choice but to flee. eritrean men and women now risk life and limb to reach either europe or the United states, even if this constitutes a serious brain drain for their homeland. the Unhcr reported that there were 474,296 eritrean asylum seekers and refugees scattered across the globe in 2015. it’s ironic how 165,000 fleeing eritreans have sought refuge in ethiopia since the war ended. this exodus is significant considering eritrea’s population is less than five million people.