The Hague, Netherlands, hit by clashes between Eritrean groups (Videos). Integration is working perfectly

According to the Federation of Eritrean Communities in the Netherlands, a “peaceful and belated New Year’s Eve party” took place yesterday at the De Opera venue in The Hague. The problem is that the party was a bit too much of a celebration, as you can see from the following video and the others we show you

Footage taken at the center showed that it was more of a political rally, perhaps organized by the dictatorial regime of President Isaias Afewerki. His Popular Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) has been in power since 1993. The country had been independent for only two years after Ethiopian troops were driven out of the capital, Asmara.

An estimated 25,000 Eritreans live in the Netherlands. They received residence permits almost immediately because of the situation in their home country. Some of them fled more than 30 years ago because of the war with Ethiopia. They see their president as a hero who made the country independent. However, every non-democratic government triggers violent opposition, which in this case is headed by the Nhamedu Brigade.

This group tries to disrupt these rallies, often using brute force. This association, which attracts many young people, clashed in The Hague with supporters, and what resulted was a night of fires, destruction, and clashes with police.

In retrospect, Mayor Jan van Zanen said that the deployment of police should have been much more substantial and that there were missed signs that the demonstration would go badly, but several signs had circulated on social media that the demonstration would degenerate. Thirteen arrests were made. These were men between the ages of 19 and 36.

This is not the first time that these gatherings, at which Eritrean artists also regularly perform, have gotten completely out of hand. In May, there were clashes in Rijswijk at a gathering of Eritreans, which was also attended by members of the Nhamedu Brigade. In 2022, an event at the same event plaza, where a prominent member of the PFDJ was to speak, was banned. Violent clashes between supporters and opponents of the Asmara regime have also occurred in Germany and Sweden.

Integration is proceeding nicely in Europe!