The Economist's 1843 Magazine published on 28 September 2023 a long commentary on Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki titled "The Surprising Triumph of 'Africa's Kim Jong Un'" by Michela Wrong.
A political survivor with close ties to China, Isaias survived a crushing defeat by Ethiopia's military in their 1998-2000 war to emerge as an ally, and some would say senior partner, in Ethiopia's internal war against Tigray Region, which borders Eritrea and took place from 2020 to 2022. According to Wrong, Isaias has always believed he could control much larger and wealthier Ethiopia.
