Mujahideen Brigades in Eritrea Threaten To Strike at Foreign Companies and Institutions

On February 20, 2007 Islamist websites posted a communiqué by a group calling itself "The Mujahideen Brigades in Eritrea." The message opens by criticizing the government in Eritrea for its harsh domestic policies which include, among other things, indiscriminate arrests of young people, children, women, the elderly, etc. The message then proceeds to address the Eritrean nation, urging them not to cooperate with "the government destructive plans," and instead to join the mujahideen's effort "to rid [the country] of this nightmare" and to support the mujahideen.

The message also warns that the Mujahideen Brigades in Eritrea considers every "exploitative foreign company and institution" in the country a legitimate target, and that if these companies wish to protect their associates they must exit Eritrea immediately.

Finally, the message calls upon soldiers and commanders in the Eritrean army to participate in the mujahideen's efforts against the government, and threatens members of the Eritrean security services, saying that they will pay for their deeds after the imminent fall of the current Eritrean government.