US comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish has been granted Eritrean citizenship – the birthplace of her father.
She is currently in Eritrea to join in celebrations to mark the country’s 28 years of independence celebrations.
The government’s Information Minister has tweeted a photo of her at a street carnival in the capital, Asmara, on Wednesday:
Colourful Street Carnival spectacles in Asmara (Martyrs & Liberation Avenues) today as part & parcel of 28th Independence Anniversary celebrations. Graphic presentations depicted #Eritrea's post-independence trajectory pic.twitter.com/7l8djQB6jd
— Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 (@hawelti) May 22, 2019
Haddish visited Eritrea last year to bury her father, Sihaye Reda Haddish, and to link up with his relatives.
During her visit she also met Eritrea’s autocratic President Isaias Afewerki.
An Eritrean diplomat in Washington confirmed on Twitter that Haddish obtained citizenship “in this very touching moment of our independence week”.
05/21/19#Asmara
A historic moment for our sister @TiffanyHaddish!!!! She applied for an #Eritrea/n ID card and granted citizenship at this very touching momemnt of our independence week. Congrats Tiff.#EritreaShinesAt28
ኤርትራ ወትሩ ብደቃ ትኹላዕ pic.twitter.com/Q8qCcCI6IL— Hadnet Keleta (@hadnetkeleta) May 22, 2019
Hadish – who was born in Los Angeles in 1979 – became famous through her role in the If Loving You is Wrong television series, and comedy films like Girls Trip.
She currently features in the television comedy series The Last O.G.
Eritrea is a one-party state ruled by Mr Isaias since independence in 1993.
Many Eritreans who left the country because of his repressive policies say they cannot return without the risk of being arrested.
