Eritrea - holidays in a dictatorship
Eritrea, Asmara
23.07.2016
Young people from the Eritrean diaspora in Australia and the USA who spend their holidays in Asmara enjoy the last rays of sunshine on the roof terrace of their house. For almost two months they have been partying every night in the clubs and oversleeping the day.
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Eritrea, Asmara
19.07.2016
Yohannes Berhane, Eritrean with Swiss passport, visits the martyr cemetery. In the 1980s, during the war of independence against Ethiopia, he fled to Switzerland.
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Eritrea,Massawa
19.07.2016
Trip of the Berhane family to Madot Island in the Red Sea. Hiyabel is floating in warm water.
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Eritrea, Asmara
04.08.2016
Propaganda poster. The long revered heroes and martyrs of the war of independence against Ethiopia are slowly fading.
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Eritrea, Asmara
05.08.2016
Power failure. There is regularly no electricity for hours. Everything stays calm and safe. The inhabitants have candles and battery-operated lamps at hand. A man walks through town in the cone of his flashlight.
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Eritrea, Asmara
23.07.2016
Simon and Rahwa Berhane dance in the nightclub Aiba with colleagues from the diaspora, who like them spend their holidays in their home country.
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Eritrea, Asmara
24.07.2016
A bridal couple is driven to the wedding party in a stretch limousine. From July to September is wedding season in Asmara. Many people from the diaspora then spend holidays in their home country.
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Eritrea, Asmara
24.07.2016
Traditional wedding in a tent in the streets of Asmara. Heavy rain flooded the tent. The celebration had to be interrupted. The bridal couple posing for the photographer.
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Eritrea, Keren
27.07.2016
The Berhane family poses in front of a mural with scenes from the war of independence against Ethiopia.
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Switzerland, Geneva
21.06.2016
Thousands of Eritreans from all over Europe and Canada living in the diaspora are demonstrating in Geneva in front of the Palais des Nations against the UN and its human rights report on Eritrea. They demand an immediate stop to sanctions.
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Eritrea, Asmara
19.07.2016
Journalists in the news room of Eri- TV, the state television station Eritreas. There is no freedom of the press, but access to the Internet is not censored and foreign channels can be received via satellite.
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Eritrea, Adi Teklezan
27.07.2016
Rahwa Berhane waves to a bus that takes young people to the military camp in Sawa. All school leavers must complete one year of military training there. The professional future is determined by the state. Only a few are allowed to study, most are divided into permanent military or national services.
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Eritrea, Asmara
05.08.2016
Sheep graze in the tank graveyard outside Asmara. Despite independence for 25 years, the border conflict with Ethiopia continues to smoulder.
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Eritrea, Asmara
22.07.2016
A young couple posing spontaneously on Adi Hawasha Street. Many young people hope for an opening of the country after the era of President Isayas Afewerki.
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Eritrea - holidays in a dictatorship
Eritrea has been one of the most isolated countries in the world for years. Eritrean refugees in Europe form a large but elusive community - little is known about their homeland. Some say Eritrea is the North Korea of Africa. The others speak of beautiful nature and a proud, independent socialism. After a long period of preparation, we had the opportunity to accompany an Eritrean family living in Switzerland during their holidays in their home country. Yohannes Berhane and his family gave us a rare insight into the Eritrean society and the life of the Diaspora. We have seen amazing beaches, beautiful cafes and celebrating teens - but also heard terrible stories and talked to people about their hopeless situation. Always with the question in mind: Is Eritrea now paradise or hell?
Winner of the swissphotaward vfg selection 2018, in the category Report.
