My BBC Eritrea material

Here is a list of my BBC material from Eritrea, all in one place.

Television:

Eritrea celebrates 25 years of independence

Crimes against humanity allegations

How bras, biros and backwards shoes won a war

Radio:

Eritrea's economy and national service

Inside Eritrea

National service and migration

Interview with Yemane Gebreab

Metal market and more

Life in Asmara

Three generations come home to Eritrea

Online:

Can pariah state of Eritrea come in from the cold?

Has Eritrea's migration problem been exaggerated?

Has Eritrea's self-reliant economy run out of puff?

Africa's modernist enigma

Photo galleries:

Silver Jubilee independence celebrations

Photos from around Eritrea

Bowling in Asmara

On my wanders around Asmara, I noticed a building with multi-coloured windows. On one side there's a big skittle and bowling ball, with a little sign with an arrow saying 'bowling'. 

This is what I found when I went inside. Bowling lanes.

This man has run the place for a very long time.

Nobody was bowling when I was there. That day, they preferred pool.

Photos of Asmara

Here are some photos I took of Asmara during my visits to Eritrea in 2016

Asmara

Ministry of information

Jacarandas in bloom

Finance ministry

Garage

Part of the university

Fish market

Pentagon statement on events in Galmudug, Somalia - and Al Shabaab response

Full response from US defence spokesperson to allegations by the authorities in the Somali state of Galmudug that more than 20 of its soldiers were killed by a US air strike. Galmudug's security minister said Puntland told the US the soldiers were members of Al Shabaab. Puntland insists they were Al Shabaab fighters. Protestors in Galmudug have been burning the US flag.

"On September 28, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted a self-defense strike against al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-associated terrorist group, in Galcayo, Somalia.

During a Somali-led counterterrorism operation to interdict an al-Shabaab Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making network, a group of armed al-Shabaab fighters attacked, threatening the safety and security of the Somali force and their U.S. advisors. Somali forces returned fire in self-defense.  The U.S. conducted a self-defense strike to neutralize the threat, killing nine (9) enemy fighters.

The U.S. remains committed to our partners in eliminating terrorism and advancing security in the region.  Violent extremists endanger the safety and stability of the Somali people; countering these threats remains in our common interests."

As for the allegations of CIVCAS:

"We have seen reports alleging non-combatant casualties as a result of a defensive strike. Once an allegation is reported, we conduct a review of all available relevant information. The review will include all relevant and credible information provided from numerous sources, including USG, NGOs, witnesses, family members, and even reports posted to social media. If the allegation is initially determined to be credible, additional levels of assessment are conducted."

Shortly after I received this statement, Al Shabaab got in touch to say none of its fighters were targeted or killed by an air strike. Al Shabaab said it has no fighters or bases in the area that was attacked by the US. It says it controls the Harardhere area in Galmudug, but has no presence in the place that was targeted, which is quite near to Galkayo. 

My photos from the Eritrean port city of Massawa