Month: February 2023

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Daniel Teklehaimanot is back, in Tour Du Rwanda

For the world of cycling, he was missing, evaporated since the brutal end of his professional career in Europe. More than 4 years after his last international race, Daniel Teklehaimanot is back, in Rwanda, where he won 5 continental gold medals, in 2010, at the very beginning of a unique career.

Daniel Teklehaimanot will remain the first professional rider from Black Africa, the first to participate in the Tour de France (in 2015, with his compatriot Merhawi Kudus), the first, again, to wear a distinctive jersey on the Grande Boucle, the jersey of the best climber, that same year. A true living legend in Eritrea, the great Daniel finally explains his years of silence and evokes, at the age of 34, his intact appetite for competition and the sport of cycling.

RFI: It seems that you forgot the pins to hang your bib before the first stage. It’s true ?

Daniel Teklehaimanot: (He laughs) No, it’s not true, it’s a joke! I haven’t lost my touch, I’m still a cyclist. We may not know it in Europe, but I resumed competition a little less than 2 years ago now, at home, in Eritrea, in local races. I never wanted to stop.

And yet, you left cycling aside, at some point?

I didn’t have much choice. At the end of my contract with Cofidis, in December 2018, I did not receive any offers, I suddenly found myself without a team. It was hard, very hard: I wanted to continue, I still had the motivation, the form, but nobody wanted me, so, yes, at one point, I completely withdrew from the professional world, from social networks, of all that… I drove less and less, sometimes several times a week, sometimes just on Sundays, between my home and the capital, Asmara. I then tried to take up duathlon, a sport that combines cycling and running, but hey, cycling is my job, I always had that in mind.

You feel a certain bitterness about the end of your professional career in Europe. Yet you are not totally forgotten…

(He closes) Really? By who ? I’m still sad, it’s not what I wanted, but today, I’m making my way. Maybe I wasn’t doing all the right things besides cycling. The aspect of communication, social networks, etc. it’s not my thing. I prefer to speak with the legs. I did what I had to do, as I wanted to do, I have no regrets. And then I’m not talking about my career in the past tense, I’m not yet a historical figure, I’m looking ahead.

So you have resumed competition at the local level?

Yes, I found myself in front of kids and I trained hard to be at the level, I needed to be pushed to surpass myself to get results. I didn’t just want to hang a bib with the name “Teklehaimanot” on it.

This selection for the Tour of Rwanda, you owe it not only to your status, you had to prove that you were still in good shape?

Yes, and so much the better. If I didn’t have the legs I would have stayed home, there are plenty of good runners in Eritrea. (A little offended). They are very strong, these young people, but don’t worry, I manage to follow them. You may think I’m finished, but I still feel strong.

You are in Rwanda in the role of road captain of the national team, but are you also thinking of playing your card?

If the opportunity arises, if I can take a good breakaway, why not, but the idea is first to stay with my young teammates. For them, it’s the first stage race, so they need a guide. I give them very simple instructions: stay focused at all times, pay attention to running movements, etc. Then, it is their talent that must speak.

Speaking of talent, seeing your more and more numerous “little brothers” in the professional teams, should that make you happy?

Ah yes… and unlike them, I wasn’t so lucky, during my first professional years, to have other Eritrean or African riders alongside me in the peloton. Today, Henok (Mulueberhan, double African champion) or Biniam (Girmay, winner of the Belgian classic Ghent-Wevelgem and of a stage of the Tour of Italy last year) are stronger than me, but ‘to have paved the way is really rewarding, though.

Source: Dehai Eritrea Online

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Reuters.com: Exclusive: Ethiopia seeks to end U.N.-ordered probe into Tigray war abuses

Ethiopia is courting support for a motion to cut short a U.N.-mandated inquiry into atrocities in the Tigray war, five diplomats said, in a move that could divide African and Western nations.

The Ethiopian government’s two-year conflict with forces in the northern Tigray region ended last November with thousands dead and millions uprooted. Both sides blamed each other for widely-documented atrocities, including massacres, rape and detentions without trial.

Though the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council has never ended a probe before its mandate, Addis Ababa has circulated a draft version of a resolution calling for the Tigray inquiry to stop some six months early. That would also block publication of findings and a final debate at the council.

Ethiopian government spokesperson Legesse Tulu and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s spokesperson Billene Seyoum did not respond to requests for comment.

Addis Ababa has opposed the investigation from the outset, calling it politically motivated and trying to block funding.

Ethiopia’s proposed motion has not yet been formally submitted to the 47-member rights council, which meets from Monday until April 4. Two of the diplomats familiar with the matter said there were ongoing efforts to dissuade Addis Ababa.

“It would be a terrible precedent,” said a Western diplomat in Geneva.

AFRICAN OPPOSITION

The war pitted the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) against federal troops, who were also backed by fighters from nearby Amhara region and Eritrea.

Allegations of abuses have persisted since the formal cessation of hostilities on Nov. 2.

Since three independent experts began work at the end of 2021, the inquiry has found “reasonable grounds to believe” that parties in the conflict committed war crimes and other abuses.

But political support has faded in recent months, most notably among African states which all opposed its renewal in October. The probe was extended for another year by a tiny margin.

Diplomats said any vote on a possible Ethiopian motion would be tight and would pit Western countries, including the European Union that helped set up the investigation, against African partners. The West needs allies against China in the divided council and against Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

“It would be a big fight,” said one of the diplomats, who opposes early termination of the mandate. The U.S. ambassador to the council, Michele Taylor, confirmed that Ethiopia was considering an early halt to the mandate: “We oppose the precedent that it would set.

We do not think that it is helpful for their (Ethiopia’s) current process and progress.”

Source: Dehai Eritrea Online

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President Kagame attends the end of Tour du Rwanda 2023

This Sunday, February 26, 2023, when the Tour du Rwanda race that had been held for eight days in Rwanda ended, President Kagame participated in the last part of the race.

It was a close race won by Eritrean Henok Mulueberhan, who also won the final section played today.

It is the second time that President Kagame participated in the Tour du Rwanda, where last year he also participated in the closing day of the Tour du Rwanda 2022, he was defeated by the Eritrean Natnael Tesfazion.

Source: Dehai Eritrea Online

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Mulueberhan wins Tour du Rwanda 2023

Henok Mulueberhane of Green Project-Bardiani made history on Sunday afternoon after claiming the final stage to Canal Olympia in Rebero to win Tour du Rwanda 2023.

The 23-year old becomes the fourth Eritrean to win Tour du Rwanda after Daniel Teklehaimanot, Natnael Tesfatsion who won it twice and Merhawi Kudus.

President Paul Kagame was in attendance at Canal Olympia, Rebero to grace the closing ceremony of the race which has been underway throughout the past eight days since February 19.

The yellow jersey for the race was not decided until Mulueberhan crossed the finish-line at Canal Olympia leading the peloton of the the of the 8th and final stage to which he finished triumphant after 75,3 kilometers in two hours four minutes and 52 seconds.

The youngster was crown champion after covering 1054,6 kilometers overall in 58 hours 28 minutes and one second to beat second-placed Walter Calzoni of Q 36.5 PRO Cycling Team to the yellow jersey by just microseconds.

Meanwhile, Bike Aid’s Eric Muhoza was not able to finish even in the top 15 on general classification despite being among the favorites to win the race prior to the final stage.

Source: Dehai Eritrea Online

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TOUR DU RWANDA 2023: ERITREAN MULUEBERHANE WINS 15TH EDITION AFTER SUPERB 8TH STAGE

Eritrean athlete and African cycling champion Henok Mulueberhane, who races for Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè, claimed Tour du Rwanda 2023 after winning the 8th stage, to set himself apart from the chasing pack, to triumph in Rebero.

Mulueberhane, 23, who went into the race with the yellow jersey but on the same time with duo of Lecerf William Junior, who rides for Soudal – Quick-Step Devo Team, and Calzoni Walter of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, sprinted to the finish line at Canal Olympia, cheered on by President Paul Kagame and other senior officials present at the finale.

The Eritrean who stayed close to the leading pack, protected by his teammates, waited for the highest climb in Rebero, before putting in a final assault to cross the line with ease, to claim what was one of the hardest tours for many riders, including legendary British cyclist, Chris Froome.

A smiling Mulueberhane received the yellow jersey from President Kagame, after which the Eritrean National Anthem was played. Eritreans living in Rwanda turned up in big numbers to cheer on their countrymate.

Calzoni finished second while Lercerf managed to finish third. Rwanda’s hopes to win Tour du Rwanda faded with Eric Muhoza, who started in 6th overall at the final stage, had a race to forget during the 75km course.

Source: Dehai Eritrea Online

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Eritrean Henok Mulueberhan won the Tour du Rwanda 2023

Hennok Mulueberhan who plays for the Green Project team won the eight-day Tour du Rwanda race in Rwanda.

The Eritrean won this race after wearing the Maillot Jaune on Saturday during the seventh stage of the Tour du Rwanda from Nyamata to Mount Kigali.

In the last area played in Kigali city this Sunday, Hennok was playing with three other players who were ahead of the general ranking because the second one was equal but they were separated by the fact that they have been driving in all areas according to the rules.

Henok Mulueberhan became the fourth player from Eritrea to win the Tour du Rwanda, after Daniel Tekleheimanot who won in 2010, Merhawi Kudus who won in 2019, Natnael Tesfazion who won in 2020 and 2022.

Hennok Mulueberhan in today’s area also finished in first place with a time of 2 hours, 4 minutes and 52 seconds, equaling the time of the four others who followed him.

Hennok then won the Tour du Rwanda with a total time of 28 hours, 58 minutes and one second, equaling the Italian Walter Calzoni, but Hennok brought him ahead because he performed well in all areas including the one he won.

Source: Dehai Eritrea Online

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EurAsiaReview.com: The Horn Of Africa States: Fears About New Bloc – OpEd

First, defining the Horn of Africa is crucial in this analysis. It is the Horn of Africa, the region that shoots out of Africa in the East towards the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali Sea and the Northern Indian Ocean in the form of a horn.

It contains four countries namely Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti, together the SEED countries. It does not include Kenya, or Uganda or South Sudan, which belong to the East Africa Community, but now could be called the Central Africa Community as it has adopted the DR Congo as a member. It also does not include Sudan, as it is part of Northeast Africa and is related more to Egypt than to the actual Horn of Africa States.

Second, the region or the SEED countries can be blocked together as they have so many things in common. They together have a long history dating back to the advent of humankind, the same weather, the same people, although languages may differ, but generally the region is rooted in its Cushitic essence. There are, of course other populations in the region, but the general population belong largely to one ethnic background.

The first fear, therefore is based on the fact that it occupies a vast territory of some two million square km and enjoys a large population of one hundred and sixty million people, most of them from the same ethnic stock. An organized region with all these advantages, would naturally appear a risk to those who currently take advantage of its disturbed governance.

The second fear is related to it being the source of the Blue Nile, which provides fresh water to countries like Sudan and Egypt, and particularly the latter which considers the Nile a national security issue and hence important for its survival. This causes the two countries to conspire against the region, all the time, sometimes using the Arab League and others only the Gulf Co-operation Council countries and sometimes the international community. It was why institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and even the African Development Bank refused to finance the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam or the GERD. It had to be financed locally from the region, and now they are against the filling of the Dam.

The third fear is again related to the location of the region. It lies astride one of the most important seaways of the world, particularly since the opening of the Suez Canal, which shortened the distance between the United Kingdom and the then jewel of the British Empire, India, by some 40% both in travel time and costs. It is now even more important because it carries about eleven per cent of the oil and gas exported to Europe and the Americas and some ten percent of global trade. The waterway passes through the waters of the Red Sea, the Bab El Mandeb Straits, the Gulf of Aden, the Somali Sea and the Northern Indian Ocean and here is why it is again important because a large part of the trade that goes to Southern Africa also passes through the waters of the Horn of Africa States in the Indian Ocean. An equally important element in the location of the region is related to the aviation world, for the region is almost located in the centre of air travel between Europe and Australasia.

The fourth fear is related to the neighboring countries of the region who include themselves in the Horn of Africa, when they are not. One often encounters the Greater Horn of Africa, which is not actually a region that exists but which is put forward to include countries like Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan and even Uganda into the formula, to extract some assistance from the donor world. Actually the Horn of Africa States does not need a lot of assistance for it can feed itself, if it was left alone. But wars and man-made famines usually assisted by these countries and their backers add onto the problems of the region, which does not give a chance to the region to breathe and handle its own affairs, more logically and professionally. The region is not without knowledge or good people or the relevant technologies. They were able to preserve meat or butter without refrigeration and store grains for years in underground silos long before many of the civilized people of today. They still do when they are left alone.

There is also the sixth fear of many of the countries of the East Africa Community and more particularly Kenya and Uganda, who fear being alienated and their securities undermined. Other regional blocks such as the East Africa Community or the Central Africa and the Great Lakes Community have their own security architecture. This should not be at the expense of other regions such the formation of a new Horn of Africa States regional block. Definitely, the formation of a new block would change the current architecture of the region, but there is no reason why they could not live together and make arrangements together for each to support the other.

Perhaps the most significant of the fears against a regional block of the Horn of Africa States is the fear that it would undermine the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), an organization which puts together countries that share little with each other. IGAD consists of the countries of the Horn of Africa States and other countries that mostly belong to the East Africa Community. One cannot be loyal to two regional organizations that have differing goals, values and missions, which demonstrates why this organization, despite being around for decades, has failed. It is a dysfunctional organization that has only consultative but no effective powers. There is no need for its existence, but its staff would definitely oppose to its dismantling although it does not serve any purpose. It is an NGO financed by Europe, which does not need to be in the way of a Horn of Africa States regional block.

The last fear comes from those who believe in the fake nationalisms of the past. If they were truly patriotic and nationalistic, they could have settled the misgovernance of the region long ago. But is known that they are clans and tribalistic, loyal to their small clans and tribes rather than to anyone else. But they still pose a threat to the formation of a Horn of Africa States region. They may be complimented by military men whose colleagues passed away in the wrong wars among the countries of the region.

But the Horn of Africa States is in progress and will see the light of day in the not too distant future.

Source: Dehai Eritrea Online