Eritrean War of Independence

Quick Facts: Who was Eritrean War of Independence?

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Eritrean War of Independence

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A protracted armed struggle for Eritrean self-determination against Ethiopian rule (1961–1991).

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Origins & Early Life

The Eritrean War of Independence (Tigrinya: ውግእ ሰውራ ኤርትራ) was an armed conflict and insurgency aimed at achieving self-determination and independence for Eritrea from Ethiopian rule. Starting in 1961, Eritrean insurgents engaged in guerrilla warfare to liberate Eritrea Province from the rule of the Ethiopian Empire under Haile Selassie and later the Derg under Mengistu Haile Mariam. Their efforts ultimately succeeded in 1991 with the fall of the Derg regime. Eritrea was an Italian colony from the 1880s until the Italians were defeated by the Allies in World War II in 1941. Afterward, Eritrea briefly became a British Military Administration until 1951.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The United Nations convened after the war to decide Eritrea's future, voting in favor of a federation between Eritrea and Ethiopia. As a result, Eritrea became a constituent state of the Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea. The federation was intended to last for ten years, during which Eritrea would operate as an autonomous region with its own parliament, while remaining under the Ethiopian crown. However, Eritrea's autonomy was progressively curtailed during the 1950s as Unionist parties gained influence within the Eritrean Assembly. As dissatisfaction with Ethiopian rule grew among Muslim Eritreans, an independence movement called the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) was formed in Cairo in 1961 by a group of Eritrean exiles led by Idris Muhammad Adam.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In September 1961 the head of the ELF, Hamid Idris Awate, launched an armed struggle for independence. During 1962, the federation was dissolved by the imperial government and Eritrea was formally annexed by the Ethiopian Empire. This resulted in many Eritreans lending support to the ELF's efforts to achieve independence. Ethiopian imperial army counterinsurgency campaigns against the ELF during the 1960s terrorized the civilian population, leading to even greater local support for the insurgency and significant international attention being brought to the war. Following the Ethiopian Revolution in 1974, the Derg, led by Mengistu, abolished the Ethiopian Empire and established a Marxist-Leninist communist state.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1941: 1941 Milestone — Eritrea was an Italian colony from the 1880s until the Italians were defeated by the Allies in World War II in 1941.
2. 1951: 1951 Milestone — Afterward, Eritrea briefly became a British Military Administration until 1951.
3. 1961: 1961 Milestone — Starting in 1961, Eritrean insurgents engaged in guerrilla warfare to liberate Eritrea Province from the rule of the Ethiopian Empire under Haile Selassie and later the Derg under Mengistu Haile Mariam.
4. 1962: 1962 Milestone — During 1962, the federation was dissolved by the imperial government and Eritrea was formally annexed by the Ethiopian Empire.
5. 1974: 1974 Milestone — Following the Ethiopian Revolution in 1974, the Derg, led by Mengistu, abolished the Ethiopian Empire and established a Marxist-Leninist communist state.
6. 1991: 1991 Milestone — Their efforts ultimately succeeded in 1991 with the fall of the Derg regime.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Eritrean War of Independence

True or False: “The initial UN proposal suggested dividing Eritrea along religious lines between Ethiopia and Sudan.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the British delegation proposed such a division, the United Nations ultimately decided to federate Eritrea with Ethiopia in 1952.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Sorkin — Historical peer (Born in 1961) (1961): Master of fast-paced dialogue, known for 'walk and talk' storytelling.
• Abderrahmane Sissako — Historical peer (Born in 1961) (1961): Mauritanian-born Malian film director known for themes of globalization and exile.
• Abby Stein — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): Israeli-American author, rabbi, and activist who speaks on faith and gender identity.
• Abhay Jodhpurkar — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): Indian singer known for songs in multiple South Indian languages and Bollywood hits.
• Adam Kuper — Historical peer (Born in 1941) (1941): Influential British social anthropologist known for research in Southern Africa.
• Adnan Khayr Allah — Historical peer (Born in 1941) (1941): Iraqi military officer and Minister of Defense, closely associated with the Ba'ath regime.
• Abanindranath Tagore — Historical peer (Died in 1951) (1951): Pioneering figure of the Bengal School, modernizing Indian art against Western influence.
• Abdullah I of Jordan — Historical peer (Died in 1951) (1951): Ruler of Jordan who transitioned from British protectorate to independent Hashemite King.
• A. K. Fazlul Huq — Historical peer (Died in 1962) (1962): Pakistani statesman and jurist, known as Sher-e-Bangla, a founding father of Pakistan.
• Abdullah II of Jordan — Historical peer (Born in 1962) (1962): King of Jordan, a Hashemite monarch who assumed the throne in 1999.

Frequently Asked Questions about Eritrean War of Independence