Kenyans have received the news of mandatory polygamy by men in Eritrea
with a mix of bewilderment and excitement. Activists have posted a memo allegedly by the Government of Eritrea
asking men to marry at least two wives due to acute shortage of men occasioned
by casualties during the civil war with Ethiopia.
with a mix of bewilderment and excitement. Activists have posted a memo allegedly by the Government of Eritrea
asking men to marry at least two wives due to acute shortage of men occasioned
by casualties during the civil war with Ethiopia.
In the statement written in Arabic assures of government support to the
polygamous marriages.
polygamous marriages.
The activists translate it thus, “Based on the law of God in
polygamy, and given the circumstances in which the country is experiencing in
terms of men shortage, the Eritrean department of Religious Affairs has decided
on the following .”
polygamy, and given the circumstances in which the country is experiencing in
terms of men shortage, the Eritrean department of Religious Affairs has decided
on the following .”
First that every man shall marry at least two women and the man who
refuses to do so shall be subjected to life imprisonment with hard labour.
refuses to do so shall be subjected to life imprisonment with hard labour.
“The woman who tries to prevent her husband from marrying another wife
shall be punished to life imprisonment,” alleges the activists in their
translation.
shall be punished to life imprisonment,” alleges the activists in their
translation.
And Kenyans have reacted to these announcements with bemusement with
some suggesting if they could change their citizenship immediately and take
advantage of the new laws in the country.
some suggesting if they could change their citizenship immediately and take
advantage of the new laws in the country.
“At this rate, I can see the Eritrea Government spreading new embassy
outlets in Kakamega, Embu, Siaya and Busia counties to help hasten visa
processing,” said one Kenyan on facebook.
outlets in Kakamega, Embu, Siaya and Busia counties to help hasten visa
processing,” said one Kenyan on facebook.
“He is so so considerate of women! That’s good of him,” said another.
The Standard could not immediately authenticate the document nor the
translation and it was not clear why the statement was not in the other two
national languages, Tigrinya and Tigre.
translation and it was not clear why the statement was not in the other two
national languages, Tigrinya and Tigre.
The May 1998 to June 2000 Eritrean-Ethiopian war saw 150,000 soldiers
killed from either sides but having a bigger impact on male population in the
tiny Eritrea nation who were then just 4million people in total.
killed from either sides but having a bigger impact on male population in the
tiny Eritrea nation who were then just 4million people in total.
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