In Giessen, Germany, a large-scale unrest occurred as hundreds of police officers were deployed to quell crowds protesting against an Eritrean cultural festival. The protesters were upset that the festival, organized by the Central Council for Eritreans in Germany, was taking place in Giessen, stating that it was a propaganda exercise by the authoritarian Eritrean regime. Clashes between the protesters and the police lasted for hours, resulting in 26 injured police officers, nearly 100 arrests, and disruptions to traffic in the town center.
The protesters threw bottles and stones at the police, damaged vehicles, and tore down fencing around the festival venue. They also targeted buses carrying festival participants, throwing stones at them. Despite efforts by the town authorities to prevent the festival from happening due to similar unrest the previous year, a local court overturned the ban. Giessen, with a population of approximately 84,000 residents, is located about 50 km north of Frankfurt am Main.
The festival in question is linked to the Eritrean embassy, raising concerns among protesters and locals. In recent years, Germany has granted asylum to many Eritreans, who make up one of the largest groups of African migrants seeking refuge in the EU. The tensions surrounding the festival in Giessen highlight the complex relationship between the Eritrean community in Germany and the authorities, as well as the challenges faced by asylum seekers and migrants in the country.
