Dear

I came to know that the UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on Eritrea on the 23rd of December 2009 for its alleged involvement in Somalia and for not accepting a request by the UNSC in their attempt to resolve a border dispute with Djibouti. I believe that no evidence was presented in imposing the sanction and that Britain was one of the main proponents who were calling for the sanctions. I have also been informed that the British government has refused to share the evidence it used as a basis for the sanctions with our community leaders. This has understandably created anger and disillusionment within the community.

As you may be aware, the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia was resolved through legal means, but the Ethiopian government refused to comply with the final and binding decisions made in 2002 by an independent court. Ethiopia still occupies areas awarded to Eritrea. The UN Security Council was meant to take measures, but they did not. Now, they have suddenly found the appetite to impose sanctions on Eritrea for a reason that is making little sense to the British Eritrean community.

Eritrea is one of the few countries in Africa on track to achieve most of the Millennium Development Goals. It has been envisaged that Eritrea will meet the targets relating to gender equality in primary education, child health, maternal health, HIV/AIDS and other major diseases, and access to safe water. The malaria rate has fallen dramatically, more so than elsewhere in Africa. The country is striving to meet the two crucial targets, namely eradication of extreme poverty and achievement of universal primary education.

Eritrea has just graduated 31 new doctors and 8 new paediatricians for the first time ever. This has reduced the ratio of doctor to population significantly and will no doubt improve the medical service provided by the government.

The promising progress achieved in 1990s suffered a severe setback as a result of the border war with Ethiopia. The gains made since the end of the war cannot be sustained and improved up on if sanctions are imposed on extremely dubious grounds.

It has been proven that sanctions do not work and only harm the ordinary people. The fact that the sanctions are perceived as unjust, it may lead to further instability in the area. The situation is precarious as it is, with Eritrea and Ethiopia having large armies on either side of their border. In this environment, it is unlikely that the countries will allocate high priority in pursuit of development to eradicate poverty.

I trust that you will take this matter to the British government on my behalf and seek that the volatile situation in the Horn of Africa is resolved through constructive engagement and not through intimidations and sanctions.