Eritrea controls Norwegian immigrant organization

Eritrea is behind a Norwegian immigrant organization, according to sources in the Eritrean opposition to the current government.

The Eritrean Association in Oslo and its surrounding areas has stated that it was created to increase the understanding and knowledge among Eritreans in Norway on Norwegian and international issues, reports NRK.

The association, on the other hand, is allegedly a cover for Eritrea, one of the most repressive regimes in the world and has gradually taken control of the association, claims NRK’s sources. According to the Eritrean opposition, the association is used to control Eritreans in Norway.

The association rejected such claims.

More than 22,000 Eritreans have immigrated to Norway since 1990.

– Several Eritreans in my network say that this is an association that clearly supports the regime in Eritrea and which the regime also uses informally as its “representatives” in Norway, said Professor Kjetil Tronvoll, one of Europe’s leading Eritrea experts.

He pointed out that the association raises money and has parties that support President Isaias Afwerki’s regime.

This year the association has received 78,000 kroner in support from the City of Oslo. Since 2009, when NRK’s sources believe the association has taken over, the association has received more than 370,000 kroner. The association has also received 18,633 kroner through the Grasrot share to Norsk Tipping.

– It is perfectly legal to have political support associations in Norway. But there is an ethical issue here: that such an association that supports one of the most repressive regimes in the world today and at the same time receives public support, explained Tronvoll.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today