Eritrean War of Independence

Eritrean War of Independence
Skilla1st · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Conflict	Eritrean War of Independence
Partof	the Cold War and the Ethiopian Civil War
Date	1 September 1961 – 24 May 1991
Place	Eritrea, Ethiopia
Result	Eritrean victory
Combatant1	Eritrean insurgents:, Eritrean Liberation Front (1961–1981), Eritrean People's Liberation Front (1970–1991)
Combatant2	Ethiopia:, Ethiopian Empire (1961–1974), Derg (1974–1987), People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1987–1991), Supported by:, United States (until 1974), Soviet Union (1974–1990), Israel, Cuba
Commander1	Idris Awate, Hamid Idris Awate, Isaias Afwerki, Romodan Mohammed Nur
Commander2	Haile Selassie, Aklilu Habte-Wold, Mengistu Haile Mariam, Tesfaye Gebre Kidan

Eritrean War of Independence was a protracted armed conflict that resulted in the secession of Eritrea from Ethiopia. The war was fought between successive Ethiopian governments and Eritrean nationalist movements, principally the Eritrean Liberation Front and the Eritrean People's Liberation Front. It concluded with the defeat of Ethiopian military forces and the de facto independence of Eritrea, leading to a United Nations-supervised referendum in 1993.

Background and causes

The roots of the conflict lie in the complex colonial history of the Horn of Africa. Following the defeat of Italy in World War II, the former Italian colony of Eritrea was placed under British administration. The subsequent United Nations resolution in 1950 federated Eritrea with the Ethiopian Empire under Emperor Haile Selassie. Growing Eritrean discontent was fueled by the systematic dismantling of the federation, including the banning of Eritrea's flag and the suppression of the Tigrinya language. The 1962 unilateral dissolution of the federation by the Ethiopian parliament, which annexed Eritrea as a province, provided the immediate catalyst for armed rebellion. Key early figures like Idris Awate symbolized the nascent resistance against what was perceived as Ethiopian occupation.

Course of the war

The war began on 1 September 1961, with the first armed engagement led by Idris Awate near Mount Adal. The early conflict was characterized by guerrilla tactics employed by the Eritrean Liberation Front in rural areas. A major split in 1970 led to the formation of the more disciplined Eritrean People's Liberation Front, which eventually became the dominant insurgent force. Key battles included the Battle of Ela Kuré and the protracted sieges of Nakfa and Afabet. The EPLF's decisive victory at the Battle of Afabet in 1988 marked a major turning point, crippling the Ethiopian Army. The final offensive coincided with the advance of the Tigray People's Liberation Front during the Ethiopian Civil War, leading to the fall of Asmara and Massawa and the collapse of the Derg regime in May 1991.

Foreign involvement and support

The conflict was significantly shaped by Cold War geopolitics. Initially, the United States, through the Kagnew Station communications base, provided military and economic aid to Haile Selassie's government. Following the 1974 Ethiopian Revolution and the rise of the Marxist Derg, the Soviet Union under Leonid Brezhnev became Ethiopia's primary patron, supplying massive amounts of weaponry and supporting Cuban military interventions during the Ogaden War. The Eritrean People's Liberation Front received limited support from various sources, including Sudan, South Yemen, and later, some Arab states. Israel also maintained a strategic relationship with Ethiopia for much of the conflict, providing counter-insurgency training.

Aftermath and independence

The military victory in May 1991 led to the establishment of the Provisional Government of Eritrea under the leadership of Isaias Afwerki. A United Nations Observer Mission to Verify the Referendum in Eritrea oversaw the April 1993 Eritrean independence referendum, where an overwhelming majority voted for independence. Formal sovereignty was declared on 24 May 1993, with recognition from the Organisation of African Unity and the United Nations General Assembly. The Eritrean People's Liberation Front transformed into the sole ruling party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice. The war's end did not resolve all border issues, sowing seeds for the future Eritrean–Ethiopian War.

Legacy and remembrance

The war is a foundational event in modern Eritrean identity, celebrated annually on Independence Day and Martyrs' Day. The resilience displayed during the siege of Nakfa is commemorated by the naming of the national currency, the Eritrean nakfa. Veterans' organizations like the Eritrean War Disabled Veterans Association remain influential. The conflict is studied for its protracted guerrilla campaign and the EPLF's social mobilization. However, the post-war era under the People's Front for Democracy and Justice has been marked by international criticism and a continued state of tension with Ethiopia, influencing the nation's militarized political culture.

Category:Wars of independence Category:20th century in Eritrea Category:Ethiopia–Eritrea relations