NGOs like
the Irish VITA (former RTI) and Finn Church Aid are exempt from the general
rules that govern the presence of NGOs in Eritrea. Both NGOs are active in
Eritrea, ten years after most of their counterparts were kicked out of the
country. This begs the question: How are these NGOs able to charm one of the
most hostile governments in the world? Or could it be the other way round?
Yemane Gebremeskel, the minister for information of Eritrea, has been invited
to the European Parliament on 28 November 2016 for an event organized by an
Irish member of the European Parliament, who cooperates with VITA. Could it be
that VITA has to placate the Eritrean regime’s leadership by serving as a
diplomatic lobby in Ireland and the EU in return for being allowed to stay?
