Eritrean festivals have been attacked in Europe, North America. The government blames ‘asylum scum’

By CARA ANNA
Associated Press

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — As one of the world’s most repressive countries marks 30 years of independence, festivals held by Eritrea’s diaspora in Europe and North America have been attacked by exiles that the regime dismisses as “asylum scum.” People who fled the Horn of Africa nation say the violence against festivals in Germany, Sweden and Canada are protests against a repressive government that’s been described as the “North Korea of Africa.” Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Eritrea over the years. One exile says a group that formed last year to counter government propaganda has protested at festivals.