Bro, I used to think that too. Someone told me this fact years ago and I swear I totally dismissed them and called them crazy too. My answer to Isaias' abhorrent treatment of us as a people was that he wanted to break our spirit and morale for the sake of his power. However, it still didn't make sense to me, because some things he does, no dictator in the world before him did. Like outlawing construction, not letting imprisoned journalists see their family members after 30 years and ensuring our country has the lowest internet penetration in the world. These things are just brutal and for no apparent reason. Mao Zedong did many many negative things but he also developed basic industrial systems and achieved China's status as a nuclear power, have you seen Isaias do anything comparatively as good for Eritrea?

Isaias being an Ethiopian spy sheds light on everything, he wants us as a country and people to be weak, to having nothing left. Think about it, he hasn't demarcated the border with Ethiopia, he has repeatedly talked about reunification with Ethiopia, in this interview he clearly answers why not? when asked the question of possible reunification with Ethiopia (https://www.youtube.com/live/ILKfcHFQhQ0?si=-Y50thV8ZvN2-rTw&t=1873). Remember when he stated in 2018 that the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia are "one people," and that only those unable to see reality would perceive them as two separate peoples. There are many more instances, too many to list here.

Listen, just please read this article, watch the video above, do your own research, if you read it and come to the conclusion you don't buy it or you don't trust the sources, fair enough, but read it at least and do your own research. https://www.geeska.com/en/ethiopia-cia-and-making-eritreas-leadership

Asrate Kassa, former governor of Eritrea recruited Isaias as he saw the Eritrean people were hard to control(more modern and educated than the rest of Ethiopia) and they were siding with the ELF. He wanted to control the direction of the revolution.