Eritrea drafts military recruits
Sunday Times, South Africa - July 6, 2007
Eritrea’s annual batch of conscripts have begun their compulsory military training, officials said yesterday, boosting what is already estimated to be the largest army in sub-Saharan Africa.
Teenagers from across the country have been sent to the Sawa Military Training Centre in western Eritrea to "fulfil their national obligation", a statement on the information ministry website said.
Eritreans stress the national service training is a long established tradition independent of current tension with arch-foe Ethiopia.
However, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi last week said Ethiopia had beefed up its army over concerns of a possible attack from Eritrea ...