THE POLITICAL PROGRAM OF ERITREAN AFAR NATIONAL CONGRESS (EANC) FULL PDF
OVERVIEW
WHO WE ARE
The Eritrean Afar National Congress (EANC) is an exiled political organization representing the aspirations, rights, and collective interests of the Indigenous Afar people of Eritrea.
EANC advocates for the restoration of Afar self-determination, self-government, and regional autonomy in Dankalia within a democratic, decentralized, and federal Eritrea founded upon equality, justice, democracy, and the rule of law.
The organization derives its mandate from traditional Afar authorities, political leaders, women and youth organizations, the Eritrean Afar diaspora, refugee communities, and civil society institutions.
EANC seeks to establish the necessary political, constitutional, institutional, and legal foundations for a transitional process leading to the realization of an Autonomous Afar State of Dankalia within a democratic federal Eritrea.
OUR MISSION
- Internal Self-Determination, Self-Government, and Regional Autonomy
To secure the Eritrean Afar Nation’s inherent right to internal self-determination, self-government, and regional autonomy through the establishment of a constitutionally recognized autonomous indigenous Afar State of Dankalia, with the historical city of Assab as its capital, within a decentralized, democratic, and federal Republic of Eritrea founded upon the principles of equality, justice, democracy, and the rule of law.
- Protection of Indigenous Rights and Control of Natural Resources
To restore, protect, and constitutionally guarantee the collective rights of the Indigenous Afar people over their ancestral territories, lands, coastal waters, fisheries, maritime resources, mineral wealth, language, culture, and traditional institutions, and to ensure Afar ownership, stewardship, management, and equitable benefit-sharing from the natural resources of Dankalia.
- Democratic Federal Transformation of Eritrea
To establish a decentralized federal constitutional order that guarantees equality among Eritrea’s nine (9) historic provinces—Akale-Guzai, Barka, Dankalia, Gash-Setit, Hamasien, Sahel, Semhar, Serae, and Senhit—promotes democratic participation, and ensures meaningful regional autonomy and power-sharing.
- Human Development and Economic Empowerment
To advance the educational, social, economic, and institutional development of the Eritrean Afar people through sustainable development, human capital investment, equitable economic opportunities, and responsible resource governance.
- Peace, Security, and Regional Cooperation
To promote peace, stability, democratic governance, and constructive regional cooperation throughout Eritrea, the Red Sea region, and the Horn of Africa while contributing to conflict prevention and sustainable development.
OUR OBJECTIVES
To achieve this, EANC shall pursue the following objectives:
- Advance Self-Determination and Autonomous Governance
Promote and exercise the Eritrean Afar people’s right to internal self-determination, self-government, and autonomy in matters relating to their political, administrative, economic, cultural, and social affairs.
- Establish a Federal Democratic Constitution
Advocate for a decentralized federal constitution that guarantees equality among all Eritrean nationalities and regions and guarantees Indigenous Afar self-rule over Dankalia.
- Protect Indigenous Identity, Language, and Culture
Preserve and strengthen Afar identity through the promotion of Qafar-Af, cultural heritage, customary institutions and laws (Mada’a), traditional knowledge systems, and historical heritage.
- Protect Human Rights and End Marginalization
Promote human rights, democratic freedoms, gender equality, social justice, and the rule of law while working to end discrimination, persecution, forced displacement, and other violations against the Afar people.
- Restore Indigenous Land and Resource Rights
Advocate for the recognition, restoration, and protection of Afar rights to traditional lands, fisheries, water resources, grazing territories, coastal resources, and natural wealth in accordance with international standards concerning Indigenous Peoples.
- Promote Sustainable Economic and Human Development
Support policies that strengthen education, healthcare, research, entrepreneurship, fisheries, pastoral livelihoods, trade, tourism, and responsible investment for the benefit of Afar communities.
- Strengthen Partnerships and Regional Cooperation
Build constructive partnerships with democratic institutions, Indigenous organizations, civil society, development partners, and regional and international bodies in support of peace, self-governance, human rights, and sustainable development.
Our Constitutional Vision
Decentralized Federal Constitution
EANC advocates for a decentralized federal Republic of Eritrea founded on democracy, equality, constitutional governance, regional self-government, and the rule of law.
Indigenous Rights
The Constitution should recognize and protect the rights of Indigenous peoples, including the Afar Nation, to preserve their identity, homeland, language, culture, and traditional institutions while participating fully in national life.
Afar Self-Government
EANC supports the Afar people’s right to internal self-determination, democratic self-government, and regional autonomy in Dankalia within a united, sovereign, and federal Eritrea.
Democracy & Rule of Law
We support:
- Representative democracy
- Free and fair elections
- Separation of powers
- Independent judiciary
- Accountability and transparency
- Equality before the law
National Unity
EANC reaffirms its commitment to:
- Eritrea’s sovereignty
- Territorial integrity
- National unity
- Peaceful democratic transition
Equality of National Communities
Every Eritrean nationality should enjoy equal dignity, equal rights, equal opportunity, and constitutional protection against discrimination, while preserving its language, culture, and heritage.
Human Rights
The Constitution must guarantee fundamental freedoms, protect human rights without discrimination, and ensure that no individual or institution is above the law.
Refugees & Displaced Persons
All Eritrean refugees and internally displaced persons should have the right to return home safely and voluntarily, receive compensation where appropriate, and rebuild their lives with international support.
