Eritreans in Switzerland have commemorated the 65th anniversary of the beginning of the country’s armed struggle for independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Revolution School.
The event was held in Geneva on 5 September and brought together former members of the school and representatives of Eritrean community organisations across Switzerland.
Remembering Two Historical Milestones
Ismail Mohammed-Nur, head of Public and Community Affairs at the Eritrean Embassy, addressed the gathering on the significance of the armed struggle and the role of the Revolution School. The account was published by Eritrea’s Ministry of Information.
Tedros Meles, one of the coordinators of the school’s golden-jubilee commemoration, also outlined its history. He said the institution was established by the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front during the independence struggle and educated young people in difficult wartime conditions.
The gathering included cultural and artistic performances linked to the two anniversaries. Similar commemorative events were organised by Eritrean communities in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.
History and the Eritrean Diaspora
Bahti Meskerem, observed on 1 September, marks the start of Eritrea’s armed struggle in 1961. Independence was achieved in 1991 and formally recognised after the 1993 referendum. For many Eritreans, the anniversary remains central to the country’s national story.
Diaspora commemorations also show how national history is maintained outside the country. Community organisations use such events to connect generations through speeches, music and accounts from people who experienced the liberation period.
The programme also gives younger participants a structured introduction to the experiences, institutions and political ideas that shaped the independence era.
That engagement continues in different forms. Afrikeye has reported on the Eritrean diaspora’s development activities in Switzerland and on Bahti Meskerem commemorations across Europe.
The Geneva event was therefore both a remembrance of the independence struggle and a demonstration of the continuing role diaspora communities play in preserving Eritrean identity and historical memory.
