8 February 2026

The Liberation of Massawa - A Historic Victory that Heralded the Total Liberation of Eritrea

Ambassador Andebrhan Welde Giorgis 

Eritreans are commemorating the 36^th anniversary of the liberation of the port city of Massawa. In a brilliant historic victory, infantry, mechanised and naval units of the heroic Eritrean People’s Liberation Army (EPLA) carried out, during 8-10 February 1990, a lightening coordinated attack, crushed the 606^th Corps of the Ethiopian colonial army, liberating the strategic port city of Massawa historically known as the pearl of the Red Sea. The liberation of Massawa signalled the looming independence of Eritrea and heralded the prospect of a bright and prosperous future for the Eritrean people. As the manifestation of the brilliant operation and resolute heroism of the EPLA, the triumphant Operation Fenkel stands as one of the greatest feats of the Eritrean revolution. It is therefore befitting that patriotic Eritreans, and the Eritrean people celebrate the anniversary of the victorious Operation Fenkel that secured the liberation of Massawa with pride.  

Massawa is a strategic port with the best deep-water natural harbour between Port Said (Egypt) and Mombasa (Kenya). It used to serve as an important hub of regional and international trade for several centuries. Its ideal strategic location and deep-water harbour lend it a great potential to serve as a vital centre of international trade, a regional hub of economic activities, and a source of wealth and prosperity for the Eritrean people in independent Eritrea. The prudent use of this valuable national asset would generate substantial revenues, stimulate economic development and uplift the livelihood of the people.

It is a very sad commentary that despite its huge economic and commercial potential, Massawa today, 36 years after its liberation, remains virtually idle and lies in ruins. The bulk of its buildings are damaged or dilapidated. Its urban landscape is disfigured. Most of its inhabitants have left it. Its economic and social life has been disrupted. Neglect has turned it into a forlorn place. The rehabilitation and development of Massawa port and the realisation of our abiding hopeful anticipation thus remains a future project awaiting the advent of a democratic national government that builds functional institutions, develops skilled manpower, and delivers modern physical and social infrastructure – sufficient water, reliable electricity, efficient transportation, efficient communications, etc.  

Port services facilitate regional and international trade, foster economic development, create national wealth and improve the livelihood of the people. The prosperity, power and influence of the ancient Kingdom of Axum derived mainly from maritime trade based on the port of Adulis. The example of present-day Singapore and Dubai amply demonstrates the great potential of port services to generate huge revenues, promote economic development, and enhance the livelihood of the people. The great economic potential of our ports has been squandered due to the prevailing malevolent neglect disabling the Eritrean people from benefitting from their natural resources. The regime has been unable or unwilling to modernise the infrastructure of the ports, avail efficient and competitive port services, facilitate maritime trade, and create gainful employment, wealth and prosperity. 

The experience of the last 35 years of independence is a living testimony that what the Eritrean people need is not the false promises of ‘development projects’ repeated year-in and year-out and the vainglorious invocations of memories of historical victories of our heroic martyrs of an autocratic regime but the institution of constitutional governance that applies the rule of law; opens the political and economic space; releases the creative potential of the Eritrean people; and invests the State’s natural and human resources for the development of the country and the prosperity of the people. We must thus resolutely persevere in the struggle for freedom, justice and prosperity to realise the original objectives of our people’s armed struggle and vindicate the sacrifices of our heroic martyrs.

The fundamental aim of the hard struggle waged, and the huge sacrifices made was to bring about a reign of freedom, justice and prosperity in an independent State of Eritrea. The Eritrean people and their heroic freedom fighters waged the struggle for liberation to make history, not to live in the memory of history. They were motivated by profound aspirations and high hopes that the historical victory of the armed struggle would usher in freedom, justice and prosperity and enable all-round nation building, economic development, social progress, and cultural renaissance.  

At this critical geopolitical juncture when the expansionist ambitions of Ethiopia’s Prosperity Party regime pose an existential threat to our country, I would like underscore that all Eritreans have a noble obligation to strive to safeguard the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the State of Eritrea, on the one hand, and to crystallise the establishment constitutional governance based on the rule of law, able to shoulder the promise of our heroic martyrs, and fulfil the profound aspirations of our people for freedom, justice and prosperity, on the other. We must work to vindicate the sacrifices of our martyrs and the sufferings of our people and ensure state construction, economic development, social progress and cultural renaissance. 

The Fenkel Operation that secured the liberation of the port city of Massawa is a brilliant historic victory of the entire Eritrean people and a source of immense pride for all Eritreans. As such, it is quite appropriate to proudly commemorate it yearly. At the same time, however, it is necessary to bear in mind the fundamental objectives of the struggle waged, the promises made, and the sacrifices incurred. It is imperative to recognise that we do not remain complacent with commemorating yesterday’s victories but work today to lay the foundation to guarantee tomorrow’s sovereignty, security and prosperity of our people and country. 

 Long live the sovereign State of Eritrea!

Eternal glory to our heroic martyrs!

God bless Eritrea and its people!