Qatar, 6 November 2025 —The head of the Eritrean delegation to the 2nd World Summit on Social Development held in Doha, Ambassador Sophia Tesfamariam, emphasized that her country views social development not as a response to external dictates or a product of dependency, but as an inalienable sovereign right and a supreme national responsibility that lies at the heart of Eritrea’s independence.
Ambassador Tesfamariam said Eritrea’s development philosophy rests on two interlinked pillars — self-reliance and social justice.
Self-reliance, she explained, means liberation from the culture of submission and dependency, while social justice represents the ultimate goal, rejecting models that concentrate wealth in urban centers while neglecting rural communities.
She noted that Eritrea’s steadfast commitment to these principles has yielded tangible progress across various social sectors, despite limited resources and ongoing external pressures.
In her address to the summit, Tesfamariam called on the international community to address the structural injustices that hinder equitable development, end coercive measures imposed on developing nations, and promote genuine partnerships through reforming global governance institutions to better reflect the voices and realities of all countries.
She concluded by affirming that Eritrea remains determined to build a future where every citizen enjoys a dignified life marked by health, equality, and opportunity.
The three-day summit was held in Doha between 4th and 6th November.
