Eritrean War of Independence
Part of Conflicts in Africa
Date 1961-09-01 - 1991-05-29 Location Eritrea Result Ethiopian defeat, resulting in Eritrean independence and governmental change for Ethiopia
Combatants
ELF EPLF	Ethiopia Cuba Soviet Union
Commanders
Isaias Afewerki	Haile Selassie Mengistu Haile Mariam
Casualties
65,000 (offical state figure)	Up to 500,000[citation needed]

The Eritrean War of Independence started on 1 September 1961 when Hamid Idris Awate and his companions fired the first shots against the occupying Ethiopian Army and police. In 1962 the Emperor Haile Sellassie of Ethiopia unilaterally dissolved the Eritrean parliament and annexed the country. The war went on for the next 30 years until in 1991, having defeated the Ethiopian forces in Eritrea, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) took control of the country. In April of 1993, in a referendum supported by Ethiopia, the Eritrean people voted almost unanimously in favour of independence. Formal international recognition of an independent and sovereign Eritrea followed later the same year. A, thus far incomplete, list of conflicts in Africa (arranged by Country), including; Wars between African nations Civil Wars within African nations Colonial Wars/Conflicts in Africa Wars of Independence in African nations Secessionist/Separatist Conflicts in Africa Major episodes of violence (riots, massacres, etc. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... Image File history File links ELF.png‎ Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Wikipedia does not yet have a page called Eritrean Liberation Front. ... Image File history File links EPLF.png‎ Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF) was an armed organization that fought for the independence of Eritrea from Ethiopia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ethiopia_(1897). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki shake hands in Eritrea Isaias Afewerki (born 2 February 1945) is the first president of Eritrea. ... Emperor Haile Selassie I (Geez: , Power of the Trinity, full title His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of Kings of Ethiopia and Elect of God, Geez [sic] ) (born Lij Tafari Makonnen Geez , Amharic pronunciation lij teferÄ« mekōnnin, July... Mengistu Haile Mariam Mengistu Haile Mariam (IPA: mÉ›ngÉ™stuː hÉ‘jÉ™lÉ› mɑːʀjÉ‘m) (born 1937[1] [2]) is a Communist politician who was the President of Ethiopia from 1977 to 1991. ... This article, image, template or category should belong in one or more categories. ... Combatants Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Party (Ihapa), All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement (MEISON), Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front, Tigray Peoples Liberation Front Derg (later Peoples Democratic Republic of Ethiopia) The Ethiopian Civil War was a 17 year long civil war in Ethiopia. ... Combatants Ethiopia Cuba South Yemen Somalia WSLF Commanders Mengistu Haile Mariam Vasily Petrov[1][2] Siad Barre Strength 217,000 Ethiopians 1,500 Soviet advisors 15,000 Cubans 2,000 South Yemenis SNA 60,000 WSLF 15,000 Casualties Unknown 20,000 killed or wounded 1/2 of the Air... The Somali Civil War is an armed conflict in Somalia that started in 1988. ... The Djiboutian Civil War (also known as the Afar Insurgency) was a conflict in Djibouti between the Peoples Rally for Progress (RPP) government (predominantly Ciise in ethnicity) and the predominantly Afar rebel group, the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD). ... Combatants Eritrea Ethiopia Commanders Sebhat Ephrem Samora Mohammed Yunis Casualties 19,000 (Eritrean opposition and state official count, backed with names and date of death in combat) More than 123,000 upto 155,000[1] The Eritrean-Ethiopian War took place from May 1998 to June 2000 between Ethiopia and... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist militias Alleged:  Eritrea Foreign Mujahideen al-Qaeda South:  Ethiopia Transitional Government of Somalia  United States North:  Ethiopia Galmudug Puntland After the invasion: AMISOM Commanders Hassan Aweys Sharif Ahmed Hasan Hersi Adan Ayrow Barre Adan Shire Hirale Abdi Qeybdid (Galmudug) Adde Musa (Puntland) Meles Zenawi... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... Hamid Idris Awate (1911-1962) fired the first shot against Ethiopian government forces on 1961-09-01 at Mount Adal. ... Haile Selassie Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 – August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF) was an armed organization that fought for the independence of Eritrea from Ethiopia. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...

Revolution

During the 1960s, the Eritrean independence struggle was led by the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF). This group originally divided the liberation of Eritrea based on ethnic and geographical divisions. The initial four zonal commands of the ELF were all lowland areas and primarily Muslim. Few Christians joined the organization in the beginning, fearing Muslim domination.^[1] After growing disenfranchisment with Ethiopian occupation highland Christians began joining the ELF. Typically these Christians were part of the upper classe or university educated. This growing influx Christian volunteers prompted the opening of the fifth (highland Christian) command. Internal struggles within the ELF command coupled with sectarian violence among the various zonal groups splintered the organization. The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... Wikipedia does not yet have a page called Eritrean Liberation Front. ...

Struggle

Map of Eritrea while still attached to Ethiopia.

In 1970, members of the group had a falling out, and several different groups broke away from the ELF. During this time, the ELF and the groups that would later join together to form the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) would fight a bitter civil war. The two organizations were forced by popular will to reconcile in 1974 and participated in joint operations against Ethiopia. Image File history File links LocationEthiopia_before1993. ... Image File history File links LocationEthiopia_before1993. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF) was an armed organization that fought for the independence of Eritrea from Ethiopia. ...

In 1974, Emperor Haile Sellassie was ousted in a coup. The new Ethiopian government, called the Derg, was a Marxist military junta led by strongman Mengistu Haile Mariam. With this change of government, Ethiopia came under the influence of the Soviet Union. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Derg party badge, c1979. ... Marxism is the political practice and social theory based on the works of Karl Marx, a 19th century philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary, along with Friedrich Engels. ... General Augusto Pinochet (sitting) as head of the newly established military junta in Chile, September 1973. ... {{For the athletic meaning, see strength athlete}} A strongman is a political leader who rules by force and runs an authoritarian regime. ... Mengistu Haile Mariam Mengistu Haile Mariam (IPA: mɛngəstuː hɑjəlɛ mɑːʀjɑm) (born 1937[1] [2]) is a Communist politician who was the President of Ethiopia from 1977 to 1991. ...

Many of the groups that splintered from the ELF joined together in 1977 and formed the EPLF. By the late 1970s, the EPLF had become the dominant armed Eritrean group fighting against the Ethiopian government. The leader of the umbrella organization was Secretary-General of the EPLF Ramadan Mohammed Nur, while the Assistant Secretary-General was Isaias Afewerki.^[2] Much of the equipment used to combat Ethiopia was captured from the Ethiopian Army. For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki shake hands in Eritrea Isaias Afewerki (born 2 February 1945) is the first president of Eritrea. ...

During this time, the Derg could not control the population by force alone. To supplement its garrisons, forces were sent on missions to instill fear in the population. An illustrative example of this policy was the village of Basik Dera in northern Eritrea. On 17 November 1970, the entire village was rounded up into the local mosque and the mosque's doors were locked. The building was then razed and the survivors were shot. Similar massacres took place in primarily Muslim parts of Eritrea, including the villages of She'eb, Hirgigo, Elabared, and the town of Om Hajer; massacres also took place in predominately Christian areas as well.^[1] 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... ARKIKO or (colonial Italian?) ARCHIGO, in modern usage rather spelled HIRGIGO, HARGIGO or HARKIKO, is an island in the Red Sea and part of the Northern Red Sea Zone region of modern Eritrea. ...

By 1977, the EPLF was poised to drive the Ethiopians out of Eritrea, thanks to a pre-determined, simultaneous invasion from the east by Somalia siphoning off Ethiopian military resources. But in a dramatic turnaround, the Derg managed to repulse the Somalian incursion, thanks mainly to a massive airlift of Soviet arms. After that, using the huge manpower and military hardware available from the Somali campaign, the Ethiopian Army regained the initiative and forced the EPLF to retreat to the bush. This was most notable in the Battle of Barentu and the Battle of Massawa. Between 1978 and 1986, the Derg launched eight major offensives against the independence movements, and all failed to crush the guerrilla movement. In 1988, with the Battle of Afabet, the EPLF captured Afabet and its surroundings, then headquarters of the Ethiopian Army in northeastern Eritrea, prompting the Ethiopian Army to withdraw from its garrisons in Eritrea's western lowlands. EPLF fighters then moved into position around Keren, Eritrea's second-largest city. Meanwhile, other dissident movements were making headway throughout Ethiopia. For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Combatants ELF EPLF Ethiopia USSR Cuba Casualties unknown unknown The Battle of Barentu took place in 1978 in and around the town of Barentu in western Eritrea. ... Combatants EPLF Ethiopia USSR Commanders Petros Solomon Strength 3,000 6,000 (Ethiopia) unknown (USSR) Casualties unknown unknown The Battle of Massawa (alt. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants EPLF Ethiopia USSR Strength unknown 20,000-22,000 Casualties unknown 15,000-18,000+ The Battle at Afabet was a watershed battle in the Eritrean War of Independence. ... Afabet is a town in northern Eritrea. ... Keren is the third largest city in Eritrea, lying north west of Asmara, with a population of around 75,000 people. ...

At the end of the 1980s, the Soviet Union informed Mengistu that it would not be renewing its defense and cooperation agreement. With the cessation of Soviet support and supplies, the Ethiopian Army's morale plummeted, and the EPLF, along with other Ethiopian rebel forces, began to advance on Ethiopian positions. The 1980s refers to the years of and between 1980 and 1989. ...

Recognition

After the end of the Cold War, symbolised by the fall of the Berlin Wall, the United States played a facilitative role in the peace talks in Washington during the months leading up to the May 1991 fall of the Mengistu regime. In mid-May, Mengistu resigned as head of the Ethiopian government and went into exile in Zimbabwe, leaving a caretaker government in Addis Ababa. Having defeated the Ethiopian forces in Eritrea, EPLF troops took control of their homeland. Later that month, the United States chaired talks in London to formalize the end of the war. These talks were attended by the four major combatant groups, including the EPLF. East German construction workers building the Berlin Wall, 20 November 1961. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the long-distance runner, see Addis Abebe. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

A high-level U.S. delegation also was present in Addis Ababa for the July 1-5, 1991 conference that established a transitional government in Ethiopia. The EPLF attended as an observer and held talks with the new transitional government regarding Eritrea's relationship to Ethiopia. The outcome of those talks was an agreement in which the Ethiopians recognized the right of the Eritreans to hold a referendum on independence. The referendum helped in April 1993 when the Eritrean people voted almost unanimously in favour of independence and this was verified by the UN observer mission UNOVER. On May 28, 1993, the United Nations formally admitted Eritrea to its membership.^[3] 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... The UN Observer Mission to Verify the Referendum in Eritrea (UNOVER) was established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/114 of 1992-12-16 and lasted until 1993-04-25. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ...

Asmara Asmara (formerly Asmera) is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people. ... Hamasien was also the name of the province including and surrounding Asmara, now part of modern Eritrea. ... Akkele Guzay was a province in the interior of Eritrea. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Semhar is the name of a former Province of Eritrea, which has now become almost entirely incorporated into the Northern Red Sea Region of Eritrea. ... Seraye is the name of a former Province of Eritrea. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Killion, Tom (1998). Historical Dictionary of Eritrea. ISBN 0-8108-3437-5. 
2. ^ Discourses on Liberation and Democracy - Eritrean Self-Views. Retrieved on 2006-08-25.
3. ^ Eritrea. Retrieved on 2006-08-25.
4. ^ Eritrea: Birth of a Nation. Retrieved on 2007-01-30.

For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• List of massacres committed during the Eritrean War of Independence

The Eritrean War of Independence was fought as a guerilla campaign by the two main liberation fronts, the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF) and the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), against the Ethiopian Army, controlled for most of the period by the democidal Marxist Derg. ...

Further reading

• Country profile: Eritrea BBC 4 November 2005
• Ethiopia Eritrea Independence War 1961-1993
• Eritrean War for Independence