Birmingham refugee who fled indefinite military service dreams of Olympics amid new life
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Now the 32-year-old is forging a new life in the city, despite carrying the scars of trauma, including undergoing emergency back surgery in Belgium after falling in a camp, losing access to his running coach and standing in the athletics community in Netherlands, and being ostracized by communities in Europe who believed refugees had brought Covid in from Italy.
Kidanemariam shared his story with BirminghamLive ahead of Refugee Week, which runs from June 16 to 22, to give an insight into why he left his repressive homeland.
Eritrea is often compared to North Korea, with journalists locked up, citizens subject to indefinite military conscription and no constitution.
"So many people in Eritrea are professionals, when you finish 12th grade you have military training," Kidanemariam told us.
"We don't have enough schools, we didn't go to university, it was all closed.
"We didn't have a future, so many great students in my country, the problems with the dictatorship are forcing people out.
"The problems are political."
President Isaias Afwerki has governed Eritrea since it won independence in 1993 but cancelled elections in 1997, closed down the free press in 2001 and, according to a 2021 Human Rights Watch report, has failed to implement critical human rights reforms.
UK university student and and Eritrean refugee Al-Zubier Adem said in a 2023 Amnesty interview: "The Eritrean regime is not nice. You have to do military service or leave the country – there are no other options."
Kidanemariam remains positive about the future, determined to pursue an athletic career - sparked by his love of running by the Red Sea in his home country.
"I was running in Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, I like running, it is my dream to go to the Olympics," he explained.
"My dream is to become an athlete, we will see."
Kidanemariam has caused a stir in West Midlands and English running circles, winning Warrington park run five times, Telford 10k twice, and Birmingham park run three times, where he raised cash for Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Since arriving in Birmingham from Warrington earlier this year, he has been supported by ACH, an organisation that empowers refugees and migrants in the UK to lead self-sufficient and ambitious lives.
ACH has offices and and supported accommodation in Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Wolverhampton and Bristol and focusses on helping refugees and migrants navigate the UK system and get into work.
BirminghamLive previously reported from inside one of its hostels, read more on that here.
"ACH supports us, they help us with education, we had a community film screening, meetings, they helped me find shoes and clothes for running or when I need something like how to apply for things on the computer," said Kidanemariam.
"Eritrea is a very good place to live [in terms of the environment and people], we have the Red Sea, but the problem is [more than] 30 years under one president, we don't have an economy, constitution, election, free press, so many journalists are locked up.
Kidanemariam's athletics talent was spotted immediately in the Netherlands and he was given a coach, however he was sent back to Italy.
"I lost everything," he recalled.
"They call us the African North Korea, I never wanted to leave my country.
"Ten years I have not seen my family."
Kidanemariam now lives in ACH-supported accommodation in Birmingham and volunteers as a deacon at a city church, helping with Sunday school.
He currently has refugee status and is in the system to apply for indefinite leave to remain and eventual citizenship.
He said: "It has been a difficult struggle with many challenges.
"I never give up, when you give up you lose everything, life is short."
An ACH spokesperson said: "For us Kidanemariam’s story is a real example of what we mean when we talk about the power of community support. It shows that with determination, support, and the right opportunities, people can overcome adversity and achieve incredible things.
"At ACH, we are committed to standing by individuals like Kidanemariam, helping them unlock their potential and achieve success in all areas of life. His victory is a reminder that every person has potential—it just takes determination, the right opportunities, consistent support, and time to bring it to life."
