Eritrea’s Transition Phase

In the Eritrean situation, the transition phase shall be the period between the immediate removal of the current dictatorship and the establishment of a parliamentary democracy through the holding of national elections.

The tasks that will have to be accomplished in the transition phase are many and complex. First and foremost, the authority mandated to run the country during the transition period must possess legitimacy. This is an authority much different from the authority required to fill a power vacuum. And to be entrusted with the necessary legitimacy, it is essential that the people give the mandate at an all-inclusive national conference. Such a national conference, which represents all the political and social forces of the nation, takes unto itself the authority of adopting the laws and programmes that are needed during the transition period. As we in the ELF-RC see it, the transitional authority in Eritrea must be a Government of National Unity.

Although it is the participant delegates at the all-inclusive national conference that are mandated to prepare and adopt the tasks of the transition period, yet political parties and organizations can still be able to submit their various drafts for consideration at the national gathering. There can be different viewpoints on electoral processes during the transition period and beyond because differences are natural to democracy which is able to resolve them through peaceful dialogue of give and take.
Therefore, it is necessary to focus our thoughts and discussions on the best means of removing the dictatorship and on the form of our transition phase.

The top priority today is to draft and fine-tune the tasks and processes of the transition period. Once that is done, it will be much easier to tackle the means of removing the unwanted dictatorial regime in Eritrea.

It is also important to remember that it is always possible for some of our political organizations to agree at meetings to use the information media to promote unity and the idea of creating a national umbrella, but in no time engage in mudslinging and smear campaigns. Those who are devoid of vision and lofty purpose will have nothing to offer to the common good of the nation. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the rest of us not to lose focus from the fundamental interests of our people, and instead fully carry the national responsibilities resting on us at this crucial time in the life of our people.

Based on these convictions, the ELF-RC sees that the following issues are among the priority tasks that will have to be dealt with at a national conference to be held in Eritrea in the immediate aftermath of the removal of the PFDJ dictatorship:

Drafting a Work Programme for the Transition Phase.

Forming a Transitional Government of national unity that replaces a temporary authority in the country.

Deciding the tenure of the Transitional Government.

Drafting Transitional Laws and Regulations for state administration.

The Transitional Government of national unity that emerges from the National Conference governs the country in the transition period and until the formation of a democratically elected government. The tasks of the Transitional Government of national unity (i.e. government representing all parties and organizations) shall include the following:

Organize the preparation for drafting a National Constitution and arrange a referendum for its popular adoption.

Promote fundamental liberties and establish the laws and institutions for freedom of expression and free press.

Ensure the freedom of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Eritrea.

Prepare studies on draft laws for the formation of political parties and have those laws adopted at a referendum or by an elected national parliament.

Put an end to conflicts and tension with neighbouring countries and instead establish natural relations based on good neighbourliness and mutual respect.

Organize plans for the voluntary repatriation of all Eritrean refugees.

Govern the country based on the political, economic, social and security plans and programmes adopted at the National Conference.

Organize parliamentary elections according the provisions of a New Constitution.

It is very clear that Eritrean experts and intellectuals will have gigantic roles to play during the Transitional Phase in the service of their nation. It will be up to the experts and the intellectuals to help in the drafting of a constitution; the preparation of laws for the formation of parties; the redrafting of rules and regulations for the civil administration; the charting and refining of policies in the political, economic, social and other fields in the everyday life of the nation. There could be full agreement on the need of encouraging our intellectuals for their active participation as of the time of the National Conference and until the end of the Transitional Phase. Needless to say, the preparation for an all-inclusive National Conference requires that all Eritrean political and social forces contribute their utmost as of now so that our envisioned transition to a parliamentary democracy shall be harmonious and peaceful.

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