Asmara, 27 December 2025 – The Central Region office of the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), Eritrea’s sole and ruling political party, convened a pivotal year-end strategic session. The meeting served a dual purpose: a comprehensive review of activities for the concluding year 2025 and the formulation of a strategic plan of action for 2026.
In his opening address, Mr. Yosuf Saiq, head of Organizational Affairs for the PFDJ, provided a qualitative assessment of the year’s work. He highlighted several key areas of focus deemed successful:
- Organizational Capacity Building: Efforts were directed at strengthening the party’s structural and operational framework at the regional level, a continuous process vital for maintaining political cohesion and outreach.
- Societal Solidarity Programs: A significant emphasis was placed on mobilizing public contributions to the Martyrs Trust Fund and providing support to families of fallen heroes (martyrs). This underscores the party’s role in fostering national solidarity and managing the social legacy of the nation’s protracted struggle for independence.
- Ideological and Social Training: The provision of training in social sciences points to an initiative aimed at developing a cadre with a structured understanding of societal dynamics, potentially to enhance community leadership and alignment with national policies.
Mr. Yosuf emphasized that these programs are not one-off initiatives but will “continue in earnest,” indicating their status as core, ongoing pillars of the party’s regional work.
Continue Reading
Looking forward, Mr. Yosuf framed the 2025 activities as foundational. He stated that the “overall programs implemented by the public and government institutions will have significant input and serve as a steppingstone” for 2026. This suggests a model where party activities are designed to synergize with and potentially guide broader public and state initiatives. The flagship program for the coming year was identified as the training and development of party cadres, with the explicit goal of “enabling them to enhance their contribution to national affairs.” This reveals a strategic priority on human capital development within the party to bolster its role in national governance and development.
The meeting’s format was inclusive of the party’s regional architecture. Participants included PFDJ administrators, heads of various units, as well as representatives from affiliated public and civil organizations. The scope of the review was broad, as evidenced by the thematic reports presented, which covered:
Social, Economic, Security, Political, Organizational, and Greening Campaign Programs. This holistic approach reflects the PFDJ’s encompassing role in Eritrean society, where it operates not just as a political entity but as a driver of socio-economic and environmental campaigns.
The participatory nature of the meeting culminated in “extensive discussions” and the adoption of concrete recommendations. These focused on:
1. Strengthening Women’s Organizations: A specific push to bolster the role and structure of women’s wings within the party’s ecosystem.
2. Enhancing Public Contribution to the Martyrs Trust Fund: A renewed call for public financial participation in this national fund.
3. Implementing Community-Based Popular Campaigns: Advocating for grassroots-driven initiatives, likely to address local needs or promote national programs.
4. Promoting Voluntary Blood Donation: A practical public health and community solidarity measure.
In conclusion, this assessment meeting offers a window into the internal mechanics and priorities of the PFDJ at a regional level. It illustrates a cycle of planning, action, review, and re-planning, centered on organizational strengthening, societal mobilization for national causes, and cadre development. The outcomes and planned programs are deeply interwoven with themes of national solidarity, legacy, and collective action, which are central to the party’s narrative and operational focus.