Ethiopia Eritrea War

Surname 1

Students Name

Instructors Name

Course

Date

The conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea

Introduction

Geographically located at the horn of the African continent, Ethiopia and Eritrea have a

long understanding relationships and similar political history that has bounded the two states

over the decades. The origins of the citizens of the two countries have identical ancestral roots

merged by bloodline relations, the same language and a shared history (Roberto). Consequently,

the colonial era that existed in Africa caused a lot of rift between these two states and its

nationalists. The existence of both monarchial and military rule in the state of Ethiopia played a

vital part in the culmination of the war that was now shredding the two countries into pieces

(John 122-150). This paper aims at identifying the causes of the conflicts that created division

among Ethiopia and Eritrea. In addition to that, it will also examine the consequences of the war

towards the establishment of peace and stability of the region.

The Course of the War

The primary cause of the war was on border disputes in which Eritrea wanted to secede

from the Republic of Ethiopia in the 1970's. According to the international based criminal court

in Hague Netherlands, the war started the moment when the Republic of Eritrea broke the United

Nations international laws by invading the Republic of Eritrea causing a lot of retaliation from

the military government of Eritrea (John 122-150). After the war had galvanized, Ethiopia

conquered Eritrea and had control of its territorial borders. Its intensity roared after the formation

Surname 2

of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), a body that was involved in intensified guerilla

warfare. They aimed at liberating their country from the military regime of the Ethiopian rule

(Roberto).

Courses of the War

Various issues led to the emergence of the war, and mostly the causes tend to lean on the

political front. Each state wanted to liberate itself from the other. Eritrea wanted their self-rule

while Ethiopia wanted to show their military strength over Eritrea. Ethiopia wished to have total

control over the state. That as the reason why it found it very difficult to let go Eritrea hence

employing the use of military intervention over the Eritrean guerilla forces (John 122-150).

Border Disputes

Border disputes remained to be one of the major courses of the war. Due to the stances

that existed between these two states, the problem of border remained unsolved until 2018 when

the united states and the African Union had to intervene to create a peaceful and long-lasting

solution to the matter (Kadinu & Bayeh 96-101). These two states were very reluctant to sit on

the table and discuss the border issues that caused the rift. Even after the intervention by the

EEBC the efforts only culminated into more rifts between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Badme was the

dominant region that created the stalemate, and each side wanted total control of the region.

Ethiopia, on the other hand, did not wish to the efforts made by her troops to go in vain by

relinquishing their dominance and giving up Badme to the Eritreans (Roberto).

Eritrea also, on the other hand, felt that they had the rights over Badme same to Ethiopia.

Their first argument was, after their troops had fought and shed blood for the region, the

boundaries commission had to grant them Badme that seemed famous for the two conflicting

parties. Each party was not ready to lose Badme due to its historical and geographical

Surname 3

significance. The international communities and the regional organizations could not solve the

border stalemate that continued to pile between these two states (Kadinu & Bayeh 96-101).

The Enraging Political Environment and Existence of a Proxy War in the Region

Before the eventual fall of the Ethiopian military rule, they had supported Sudan's People

Liberation Movement. In response to their support of the movement, the federal government of

Sudan has its support for the Eritrean Liberation Front that was at that time fighting the

government of Ethiopia for self-rule and secession. These political interventions created a lot of

tension in the whole of the horn of Africa culminating the war to engage and spread up to the

state of Somalia (Kadinu & Bayeh 96-101).

The destabilization galvanized the war in that each movement supported each other

financially and in military. The overall consequence led to a lot of hostility and political

differences between these states in the horn of Africa. Ethiopia remained firm and wanted to stop

Eritrea from seceding and becoming some de-facto state (Roberto).

The Rise of Authoritarianism and Military Rule

The political temperature in Eritrea at that time dwelt more on what was termed as a

personal rule. The people's concerns were not focused on. There existed a limited democratic

space in the region. The dictatorship led to forceful arrests and imprisonment of political

activists, and the country's leader expelled any voting process in the country and democracy.

This regime purged into the war with personal interests and not minding about the lives of the

innocent that would be affected by the warfare (Roberto).

The use of the military by these two different states was the primary drive to galvanizing

the war. Each country wanted to show its political dominance and strength over the other. With

the absence of a free and a democratic field, the voices of the citizens from the two states were

Surname 4

not heard. Every military leader wanted the war to continue so that they could have their gains

and shoe of their military dominance in the region. Peace was a non-issue for the two conflicting

statements. After the Algiers Agreement in Algeria, both states agreed to end the stalemate and

the political differences that existed between them by allowing democracy to propel between

these two states (Kadinu & Bayeh 96-101).

Consequences of the Ethio- Eritrean War

The war had several effects on the peace of the region along horn of Africa and the

relations that existed between these states that were directly or indirectly engaged in the

stalemate. Apart from the tension it created in the region, the economy of the region was also

significantly affected (Ferede).

Regional Destabilization

The stalemate led to actual wars in the horn of Africa region including Sudan, Somalia,

Eritrea and Ethiopian regions. Each movement and regime in these states tried very hard to show

their military and political dominance by outshining one another. In Ethiopia, the Oromo

community through the Oromo liberal movement was very vocal for their liberation from the

Ethiopian government. Eritrea supported them to show their political strength and to destabilize

Ethiopia (Kadinu & Bayeh 96-101). This group was supported by Mohamed Farah Aidid, a

military commander that was based in Somalia. On the vengeance side, Ethiopia retaliated and

supported movements in Southern Somalia that opposed the Aidid reign. Ethiopia also supported

the Sudanese liberal movement in response to Sudan's support to Eritrea rebels who were called

the Eritrean Islamic Jihad Group that was advocating for the secession of Eritrea from Ethiopia

(Atinafu & Ababa).

Deaths and the Displacement of Civilians

Surname 5

A total averaging to almost 19,000 troops who belonged to the Eritrean Army were

murdered according to the Eritrean government. A total of over 70,000 casualties were recorded

from both fronts (Atinafu & Ababa). However, these figures have been up for debates as most

information outlets have stated that the number of fatalities had risen to over 100,000. The

government of Eritrea claimed that Ethiopia had used human types of waves to topple them in

the trenches. The independent information outlet instead refuted these human waves and that the

primary cause of the defeat of Eritrea by Ethiopia was that they were outnumbered and did not

have the power to topple the enraged Ethiopian troops (Atinafu & Ababa).

These also existed massive displacement and death of innocent civilians from both states.

For instance, the Republic of Ethiopia deported over 70,000 persons of Eritrean origin

galvanizing more misery to Eritreans refugee problems. They were expelled due to the security

risks that they imposed on the country and to themselves (Atinafu & Ababa). The Republic of

Eritrea also retaliated by deporting over 8000 Ethiopians who were residing in Eritrea. The

remaining political detainees were subjected to torture, and some were raped according to the

Human Rights Watch (Ferede).

Economic Purge

The war led to a lot of economic downfalls in the two states. A lot of finance was

invested in the war leading to the economic decline of the two nations. The resultant factors led

to famine, food shortages and the difficulties in containing the rising number of refugees that

were being deported from both conflicting countries. The Ethiopian Eritrean trade relations also

declined as they relied on each other through the trade. Eritrea provided Ethiopian with its ports

and the road networks while Eritrea relied more on Ethiopia for its foreign trade relations. The

Surname 6

war galvanized the poverty and economic downfall that has continued to affect these states to

date (Ferede).

The rise in Tension and Regional Hostility

After the intervention by the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE),

there was an agreement of a 25-kilometre strip gap between the Eritrean Ethiopian border. The

tension arose from the disagreements and the support that these movements had from the other

countries. These existed a lot of mistrust among these two states and the states that had involved

itself in the war along the horn of Africa (Ferede). After the genocide that had been brought by

the war, most civilians feared for their lives as the horrors of the war were still fresh in their

minds. The military and the authoritarian regimes in the states also were the major contributing

factors to the tension that was being experienced in the region (Atinafu & Ababa).

Formation of Commissions, Courts of Arbitrations and Peace Initiative Movements

The Ethiopian Eritrean Boundaries Commission and the United Nations Mission in

Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), were formed to help in resolving the disputes that had occurred.

The main aim of the commission was to be a lasting solution towards political and economic

stability in the region (Atinafu & Ababa). The East African Corporation (EAC) and the African

Union (AU), formed joint task force to ensure that the stability of the region was installed

through the process of peacekeeping proves and offering diplomatic relations between the two

nations (Abdi 110).

The Ethiopian Eritrean Claims Commission (EECC), was formed to reduce the rift that

existed between the two nations. In addition to that, they were to investigate the potential risks

and claims of the victims that were affected by the war and looked at the possible solutions. This

commission was corresponding to the Algiers convention on the Ethiopian Eritrean stalemate.

Surname 7

These commissions later galvanized the peace accords that were signed between the conflicting

nations (Mahray 209-220).

The Aftermath

As most scholars say, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. These two countries

that share similar cultural and historical backgrounds, now have agreed to abide by the Algiers

Peace Accord of 1998 (Mahray 209-220). This has paved the way for peaceful coexistence

between the two nations. The new and current premier of the Republic of Ethiopia Mr Abiy

Ahmed promised to abide and respect the terms that were entailed in the accord. More promises

and hopes have been brought by the leaders of the two nations (Mahray 209-220).

The awarding of the town of Badme to Eritrea was part of the peace accord, Abiy has

stood to his word and vowed to respect the terms that Algiers Accord entailed. On the other

hand, the president of the Republic of Eritrea Mr Isaias Afewerki has promised to abide by the

Algiers Accords and respect its terms. These two head of states have in return ensured that the

peace between the two countries is promoted through the peace accords (John 122-150). Through

agreeing to the terms of the peace accord, the two leaders showed great leadership qualities and

the need for the two countries to continue to share the relationships that they previously had. War

could not solve any dispute, but sitting together and resolving issues would. This was the core

fundamental facts that were presented during the peace accord (John 122-150).

Conclusion

The Ethio-Eritrean stalemate brought a lot of political differences between several states

in the horn of Africa; Sudan and Somalia are one of the countries that were directly involved in

the war. However, the primary cause of the stalemate focused on border control by the two

nations. Even after the two states agreed to end the deadlock and resolve the issue peacefully,

Surname 8

they still clashed on several occasions regarding which state had full access to the region. More

interventions must be carried out to end the stalemate once, and for all or else the issue on border

dispute will arise, and lives will be lost. Leaders also must be responsible for making decisions

that affect the lives of the citizens directly. These two states should have gone to a referendum

and peacefully seceded from one another without engaging in unprecedented warfare. Due to

similar cultural and bloodline factors shared by the two nations, war must not be the only activity

bringing them together. They must concentrate on development projects to help cover up for the

lost time and finance that were invested in the war. That will be the only shortcut to improving

the lives of the citizens that were significantly affected by the stalemate. Democracy must also be

enhanced by ensuring that the civil rights movements and intellectuals are integrated into the

govern menace of the two states.

Surname 9

Work Cited

Atinafu, Kidanu, and Endalcachew Bayeh. "The Ethio-Eritrean Post-War Stalemate: An

Assessment on the Causes and Prospects." Social Sciences 3.2 (2015): 96-101.

Bezabih, Wuhibegezer Ferede. "Fundamental consequences of the Ethio-Eritrean war [1998-

2000]." Journal of Conflictology 5.2 (2014).

Campbell, John R. Nationalism, law and statelessness: grand illusions in the Horn of Africa.

Routledge, (2013): 122-150.

McHugh, Aman Mahray. "Resolving International Boundary Disputes in Africa: A Case for the

International Court of Justice." Howard LJ 49 (2005): 209-220.

Rodriguez, Roberto M. "Intractable Conflicts in Africa: An Analysis of the Causes and Nature of

the Ethio-Eritrean Conflict." (2012).

Shuriye, Abdi O. "The International Community's Intervention on Ethiopia and Eretria's

Conflict." Review of European Studies 5.1 (2013): 110.

TEMESGEN, KIDANU ATINAFU, and ADDIS ABABA. "ETHIO-ERITREAN RELATIONS

SINCE 1991: EXPERIENCE FOR SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN'S RELATIONS."

(2014).

Surname 10

Place new order. It's free, fast and safe

Paper type

Deadline

Page count

550 words

Total price: $ 15.00

Our customers say

Jeff Curtis

USA, Student

"I'm fully satisfied with the essay I've just received. When I read it, I felt like it was exactly what I wanted to say, but couldn’t find the necessary words. Thank you!"

Ian McGregor

UK, Student

"I don’t know what I would do without your assistance! With your help, I met my deadline just in time and the work was very professional. I will be back in several days with another assignment!"

Shannon Williams

Canada, Student

"It was the perfect experience! I enjoyed working with my writer, he delivered my work on time and followed all the guidelines about the referencing and contents."

Place new order. It's free, fast and safe

Our customers say

Jeff Curtis

Ian McGregor

Shannon Williams