Since the beginning of recorded history up to 1991, various empires, kings and so called democracies have invaded, plundered and attempted to subjugate the people of Eritrea. The struggle for dignity and independence has taken many forms including a protracted 30 year armed struggle. The victory in 1991 and the referendum that followed two years later had given birth to a new nation. However, 100 years of colonialism, particularly Ethiopia’s plunder and wanton destruction, had left the country in ruins. Yet, this African country had something no other country can match, a dignified and proud people determined to build the country by its bootstraps. In its twenty years of Independence, Eritrea has managed to build what some have called a beacon of hope in a continent known for its share of tragic stories. The country has had very little income, yet the people of Eritrea have managed to build the vital structures of a country – schools, hospitals, roads, dams and much more. A feat only matched by the richest and most developed countries. The country now has vital income from its production of gold and enormous income potential from its explorations of potash.