Afwerki

Afwerki, Isaias Afwerki (born February 2, 1946), is an Eritrean politician who has served as the president of Eritrea since independence in 1993. He is the chairman of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), the country’s sole legal political party.

Afwerki was a prominent figure in the Eritrean liberation movement against Ethiopian rule, joining early Eritrean liberation groups and later leading the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), which became the core force in the armed struggle and the basis for the post-independence state.

Following independence, he became head of state and commander-in-chief of the Eritrean armed forces. The PFDJ governs Eritrea with centralized authority, and national elections have not been held since independence. A constitution drafted in 1997 has not been enacted, and civil liberties have been restricted in practice.

His tenure includes the 1998–2000 border war with Ethiopia, which ended in a stalemate and long-standing border tensions. Internationally, Eritrea has faced criticism from human rights organizations for restrictions on political rights and freedom of expression, as well as the practice of extended national service. The country has remained relatively isolated at times, though regional relations have shifted in certain periods.

In recent years, there have been efforts at rapprochement with regional partners, most notably Ethiopia, contributing to a reassessment of Eritrea’s regional posture. Afwerki’s leadership has been a central factor shaping Eritrea’s domestic policy and its position in the Horn of Africa.