The origins, formation national role of the Eritrean diaspora are described in Chapter 13: Engaging the Diaspora. It explains how interstate conflicts and domestic repression have driven more and more people out of the country to join the diaspora since the start of the border war with Ethiopia in 1998 and the government’s crackdown in September 2001. It also describes how the relative size, wealth, educational attainment and close attachment to the home country have made the Eritrean diaspora a source of sizeable remittances and a significant player in the political, economic and social life of the country.

The chapter notes that a more conducive political and economic space would enable the Eritrean diaspora to use its multiple linkages and resources to promote investment and make a more effective contribution to national development. It also signals the need for the diaspora to transcend the old political and social divides, unify its politics, and reposition its focus on the drive for change. The chapter emphasises the patriotic duty of political activists, movements, and media outlets to distinguish between the interests of the State and the regime, and the potential of the diaspora to play a catalytic role in the effort to bring about change, reconstruct a democratic state, and transform society through constructive engagement and collaborative action.