Key Events in Eritrea's War for Independence: For more than 30 years Eritrea sought independence from Ethiopia. Tension between the two nations persisted over economic, ethnic, and border disagreements. Eritrean independence was gained in 1993.
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The Battle of Keren is fought; Eritrea is placed under British control
During the Battle of Keren, British military forces defeated the Italian army in Eritrea. The colony of Eritrea was subsequently placed under British military administration until Allied forces could determine its fate. March, D. (2012, Aug/Sept). The battle of Keren. World at war. http://worldatwarmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/WW25-p6-13.pdf. -
Eritrea became a federal component of Ethiopia
After Britain administered Eritrea as a United Nations trust territory in 1949, the United Nations then determined Eritrea to be a federal component of Ethiopia. Global Policy Forum. (2017). Ethiopia and Eritrea. Retrieved from https://www.globalpolicy.org/security-council/index-of-countries-on-the-security-council-agenda/ethiopia-and-eritrea.html. -
Eritrea was annexed by Ethiopia
Ten years after Eritrea was federated by the United Nations, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie dissolved the federation and annexed Eritrea. Thus ensued the Eritrean War for Independence, a thirty year armed struggle between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Global Policy Forum. (2017). Ethiopia and Eritrea. Retrieved from https://www.globalpolicy.org/security-council/index-of-countries-on-the-security-council-agenda/ethiopia-and-eritrea.html. -
Selassie removed; Soviet Union & Cuba aid Ethiopia
Ethiopian Emperor Selassie is removed from office via military coup; a military regime led by Haile Mariam seized power. In 1977, the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Party (EPRP) is supported by Soviet military advisers and Cuban forces. The support bolstered the Ethiopian regime, undermining the progress made by Eritrean guerrilla forces.
Plaut, M. (2012, Dec 14). Eritrea-from annexation to independence. https://martinplaut.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/eritrea-from-annexation-to-independence/. -
The Battle of Massawa: Eritrean People's Liberation Front Captured the Port of Massawa and later, the Capital of Asmara
The Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) captured the Eritrean port of Massawa during the Battle of Massawa. In 1991, the EPLF captured the Eritrean capital of Asmara and formed a provisional government there. The EPLF supported its allies in the Ethiopian rebel movement to topple Mengistu Haile Mariam. BBC News. (2017, Apr 11). Eritrea profile. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13349395. -
Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia
Eritreans overwhelmingly vote to become an independent nation from Ethiopia. The vote confirmed that Eritrean was a separate nation from Ethiopia. It was declared an independent nation on May 24.The Ethiopian government feared that it would cause more movements for independence across Ethiopia.
Lorch, D. (n.d.) Eritreans Voting on Independence from Ethiopia. New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/24/world/eritreans-voting-on-independence-from-ethiopia.html -
Eritrea and Yemen clashed over the Hanish Islands
Eritrea and Yemen engaged in a conflict over the Hanish Islands in the Red Sea. Eritrea stated that the Hanish Islands belonged to Eritrea. Eritrea ordered Yemeni troops to leave the islands; air and ground attacks commenced when they did not comply. The disagreement was resolved in a cease fire; it almost caused an Arab-African conflict.
Dzurek, D. (1996). Eritrea-Yemen dispute over the Hanish Islands. Boundary and Security Bulletin. https://www.dur.ac.uk/ibru/publications/download/?id=85 -
War between Eritrea and Ethiopia broke out over ethnic and economic issues and border disuputes
A costly war between Ethiopia and Eritrea ensued in the city of Badme and throughout both countries over the border along the Red Sea. Ethiopia had to use alternate trade routes in order to ship goods, including passing in through Eritrea. The war ended in a stalemate in May 2000 with each side claiming to have withdrawn.
Shah, A. (2000, Dec 20). Conflict Between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Global Issues. http://www.globalissues.org/article/89/conflict-between-ethiopia-and-eritrea. -
Eritrea expelled American, European, and Russian peacekeepers from the border with Ethiopia
Eritrea expelled American, European & Russian peacekeepers from their watch over the Ethiopian border. The peacekeeping units were given 10 days to vacate; the United Nations addressed orders to Eritrea to allow the peacekeepers to stay. There were 3,300 peacekeepers from 40 different countries within Eritrea. Indian troops ordered the UN-patrolled buffer zone between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
BBC News. (2005, Dec 7). Eritrea to expel UN peacekeepers. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4505994.stm. -
United Nations imposed sanctions on Eritrea for support of Islamic insurgents in Somalia
The UN voted on reinforced sanctions to prevent Eritrean mining funds from being violated; Eritrea had to end efforts to destabilize states & allow states to control their own mining business. Eritrea was also to cease creating & obtaining weapons. All means of threats to collect tax were also to end.
United Nations. (2011, Dec 5). Security Council, by Vote of 13 in Favor, Adopts Resolution Reinforcing Sanctions Regime Against Eritrea ‘Calibrated’ to Halt all Activities Destabilizing Region.
