Brigade Nhamedu
{{Short description|Eritrean diaspora-based advocacy group}}
{{Infobox organization
| formation = 2022
| logo = Flag of Eritrea (1952-1961).svg
| logo_caption = The old flag of Eritrea, sometimes used by the group during demonstrations
| purpose = activism
| leader_name = Saryam nhamedu
}}
Brigade Nhamedu ('Brigade Being ready to fight and sacrifice'{{Cite web |date=2023-08-09 |title=Eritrea’s repressive government criticizes exiles who attack overseas festivals as ‘asylum scum’ |url=https://www.wjbf.com/news/u-s-world-news/ap-international/ap-eritrean-festivals-have-been-attacked-in-europe-north-america-the-government-blames-asylum-scum/ |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=WJBF |language=en-US}} or 'Blue Brigade'{{Cite web |last=Plaut |first=Martin |date=2023-12-19 |title=Eritrea’s active opposition: the rise of Brigade N’Hamedu |url=https://martinplaut.com/2023/12/19/eritreas-active-opposition-the-rise-of-brigade-nhamedu/ |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Martin Plaut |language=en}}), also known as Brigade N’Hamedu) is an Eritrean diaspora-based group advocating against the government of Eritrea. Key objectives of the Brigade N’Hamedu aka Blue Revolution movement is Regime Change in order achieve a democratic and peaceful Eritrea, one that respects human rights and rule of law. The Blue Revolution also exposes the illegal and foreign power interference conduct of Eritrea’s totalitarian PFDJ regime in the diaspora including transnational repression of pro democracy Eritreans in the diaspora. It was established in 2022.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-27 |title=223 vragen over rellen Eritreeërs, Van Zanen beantwoordt ze 'zo gedetailleerd mogelijk' |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2510642-223-vragen-over-rellen-eritreeers-van-zanen-beantwoordt-ze-zo-gedetailleerd-mogelijk |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=nos.nl |language=nl}}{{Cite news |title=Eritrea-Festivals: Was hinter der Gewalt steckt |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/eritrea-festivals-gewalt-angriffe-1.6247088 |work=Süddeutsche Zeitung}} The group seeks to stop or disrupt diaspora gatherings that are supportive to Eritrea's authoritarian government.{{Cite journal |last=Plaut |first=Martin |date=2024 |title=Eritrea’s foreign festivals: clashes within the exile community |url=https://scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.62191/ROAPE-2024-0009 |journal=Review of African Political Economy |language=en |volume=51 |issue=179 |doi=10.62191/ROAPE-2024-0009 |issn=0305-6244|doi-access=free }} The group claims that diaspora are subjected to pro-government propaganda and are pressured to pay taxes to the Eritrean government at these gatherings.{{Cite web |title=Beruchte Eritrese club wekt afschuw bij Tweede Kamer: ‘Relschoppers direct het land uit’ |url=https://www.destentor.nl/binnenland/beruchte-eritrese-club-wekt-afschuw-bij-tweede-kamer-relschoppers-direct-het-land-uit~ae01ebc4/}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-18 |title=Waarom voor- en tegenstanders van het Eritrese regime met elkaar botsen |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2509365-waarom-voor-en-tegenstanders-van-het-eritrese-regime-met-elkaar-botsen |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=nos.nl |language=nl}} The end goal of the group is to end the government of Isaias Afwerki and his PFDJ party.
The group has been linked to violent confrontations with pro-government diaspora groups in Canada, the US, Sweden, Germany, Norway, The Netherlands and Israel.{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Kaamil |last2=Bryant |first2=Miranda |date=2023-08-12 |title=Eritrean diaspora vow to continue disrupting festivals that ‘promote dictatorship’ |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/12/eritrean-diaspora-vow-to-continue-disrupting-festivals-that-promote-dictatorship |access-date=2024-08-14 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-09 |title=24-Jähriger muss sich in Gießen verantworten |url=https://www.giessener-anzeiger.de/stadt-giessen/24-jaehriger-muss-sich-in-giessen-verantworten-93175744.html}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-17 |title=Rechtbank buigt zich over gewelddadige rellen Eritreeërs Den Haag |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2520767-rechtbank-buigt-zich-over-gewelddadige-rellen-eritreeers-den-haag}} A pro-government{{Cite web |title=De ontwikkelingen in de Eritrees-Nederlandse gemeenschap |url=https://www.socialestabiliteit.nl/binaries/sociale-stabiliteit/documenten/publicaties/2024/08/07/informatieblad-de-ontwikkelingen-in-de-eritrees-nederlandse-gemeenschap/Ontwikkelingen+in+de+Eritrees-Nederlandse+gemeenschap+-+informatieblad.pdf |publisher=Verwey-Jonker Instituut}} Eritrean diaspora group has called for prosecutors to denote Brigade Nhamedu a terrorist organization.{{Cite web |title=OM doet onderzoek naar Eritrese Brigade Nhamedu na verwijt terroristische organisatie te zijn in aangifte |url=https://www.ad.nl/den-haag/om-doet-onderzoek-naar-eritrese-brigade-nhamedu-na-verwijt-terroristische-organisatie-te-zijn-in-aangifte~a0019767/ |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=}}
History
According to a UK-based representative of the group, the group was formed in mid-2022 in response to an Eritrean cultural festival organized by Eritrean government actors. According to the representative, Eritrean-government affiliated paramilitary were present at the festival, threatening anti-government activists.
According to researcher Martin Plaut, the Brigade has organized itself in Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Britain, Germany, the USA, Finland, Israel, Australia and South Africa among others. They plan to hold elections for a democratic government-in-exile. Members mainly organize themselves through social media such as PalTalk, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.{{Cite journal |last=Tewelde |first=Yonatan |date=2024 |title=Unveiling Dissent: Eritrean Diaspora Festival Turmoil and Social Media Mobilization |journal=Brown Journal of World Affairs |volume=30 |issue=2}}
= Incidents =
On 8 July 2023, several police officers were wounded after a group of Eritreans attacked an event at the Eritrea Festival in Giessen, Germany. The attack could not be conclusively linked to Brigade Nhamedu by the police.
On 17 February 2024, members of the group violently confronted police and firefighters during a pro-government gathering in The Hague.{{Cite news |last=Haenen |first=Marcel |date=2024-02-18 |title=Deze groep zet alles op alles om de buitenlandse feestjes van het dictatoriale regime in Eritrea te verstoren |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/02/18/deze-groep-zet-alles-op-alles-om-de-buitenlandse-feestjes-van-het-dictatoriale-regime-in-eritrea-te-verstoren-a4190496 |access-date=2024-08-14 |work=NRC |language=nl-NL}} According to prosecutors, members deliberately attacked police, as they perceived police to protect the pro-government gathering.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-14 |title=Rellen Fruitweg waren vooropgezet plan |url=https://www.om.nl/actueel/nieuws/2024/08/14/rellen-fruitweg-waren-vooropgezet-plan}} Twenty-nine police officers were wounded during the confrontations.
Three days later, one of the alleged leaders and co-founders, an Eritrean-Dutch man using the pseudonym 'John Black', was arrested in The Netherlands.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-17 |title=Rellende Eritreeërs voor de rechter: 'Wij doen niet aan de wet' |url=https://www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/4836879/rellende-eritreeers-voor-de-rechter-wij-doen-niet-aan-de-wet |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=www.omroepwest.nl |language=nl}} John Black claimed to have attempted to get the municipality to retract the pro-government gathering's permit. When this was not honored, he called for a 'Plan B' to stop the gathering. According to Dutch prosecutors, John Black had promoted texts claiming that the group does not bound itself to laws and is a movement of violence.
References
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