Eritrea Summons German Ambassador over ‘Smears’

ADDIS ABEBA – Eritrea’s foreign ministry has summoned Germany’s top diplomat in Asmara over “unbridled smear campaigns” by Deutsche Welle, Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said.

“German Government funded Deutsche Welle persists in its unbridled smear campaigns against Eritrea,” he said.

“Latest in these despicable series are half-baked and strident website pieces on the peace process and the National Service by its senior editors of the English/Amharic Services,” he said.

The foreign ministry would seek “clarification/rectification” from the ambassador over German Deutsche Welle’s coverage of national service in Eritrea, and the peace process with Ethiopia, he said in a tweeted message.

The broadcaster and the German government have not yet commented.

Relations between the two countries are strained because of Germany’s insistence that Eritrea’s human rights situation should improve.