Second Afar insurgency explained

Conflict:Second Afar insurgency
Partof:the Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict
Date:1995 – 18 July 2018
Place:Afar Region, Ethiopia
Southern Red Sea Region, Eritrea
Status:
Combatant1:
Combatant2:
Commander1: Meles Zenawi
Isaias Afwerki
Commander2:
Casualties3:275–569 killed in total

The Second Afar insurgency was an insurgency in the Afar Region of Ethiopia and the Southern Red Sea Region of Eritrea (also known as Dankalia), waged by various Afar rebel groups. Both Ethiopia and Eritrea supported different rebel groups in the region in a proxy war, and occasionally engaged in border skirmishes with each other, as well as with opposing rebel groups.

Background

See main article: Djiboutian Civil War.

The Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF) was founded in 1993, through the merging of three Afar rebel groups, the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Union, the Afar Ummatah Demokrasiyyoh Focca (AUDF), and the Afar Revolutionary Forces (ARF). The three groups were united under the goal of creating an independent state in the Afar Region. The group operates within Ethiopia, allegedly receiving Eritrean support. In 1995, ARDUF perpetrated its first attack, kidnapping an Italian tourist. The victim was later released unharmed.[4]

The Red Sea Afar Democratic Organisation (RSADO) was founded in 1999. Along with the Eritrean National Salvation Front (ENSF), the group operates from bases located in Ethiopia, launching attacks into Eritrean territory. Both groups are allegedly supported by Ethiopia.[5]

Timeline

Prior the 2000s

2000–2009

2010

See main article: 2010 Eritrean–Ethiopian border skirmish.

2011–2018

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ethiopia, Eritrea officially end war. Deutsche Welle. July 9, 2018. July 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180709190141/https://www.dw.com/en/ethiopia-eritrea-officially-end-war/a-44585296. July 9, 2018. live. mdy-all.
  2. Web site: Eritrean rebels claim to have killed dozens of intelligence agents. Sudan Tribune. 29 April 2014. 28 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141109080837/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article50805. 9 November 2014. live. dmy-all.
  3. Web site: Red Sea Afar rebels attack Eritrean military camp. Sudan Tribune. 26 January 2006. 2 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141109072313/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article29974. 9 November 2014. live. dmy-all.
  4. Web site: Political Parties. April 1997. 28 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141028025157/http://www.angelfire.com/ak/sellassie/politics/parties.html. 28 October 2014. live. dmy-all.
  5. Web site: Q&A: Ethiopia's Afar region. BBC. 18 January 2012. 28 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141110231237/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-16620783. 10 November 2014. live. dmy-all.
  6. Web site: Ethiopia preparing the ground for another war against Eritrea. Sudan Tribune. 17 May 2007. 28 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141109095241/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?page=imprimable&id_article=21915. 9 November 2014. live. dmy-all.
  7. Web site: Woyanne-backed rebels claim killing 285 Eritrean soldiers. Ethiopian Review. 17 November 2008. 28 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20120922145015/http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/7086. 22 September 2012. live. dmy-all.
  8. Web site: Eritrean Rebels Say Kill 25 Government Troops In Attacks. 28 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141028101948/http://nazret.com/blog/index.php/2010/01/02/eritrean_rebels_say_kill_25_government_t. 28 October 2014. live. dmy-all.
  9. News: Eritrean rebels claim killing 11 government soldiers. Reuters. 23 April 2010. 28 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141028113332/http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/04/23/us-eritrea-rebels-idUSTRE63M2G520100423. 28 October 2014. live. dmy-all.
  10. News: BBC News - Eritrea profile - Timeline. BBC News. 10 May 2011 . 28 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141028082618/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13349395. 28 October 2014. live. dmy-all.
  11. Web site: Eritrean rebels 'kill 12 government troops'. Sudan Tribune. 22 October 2011. 2 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141112152257/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article40502. 12 November 2014. live. dmy-all.
  12. News: Eritrea rebels say killed 17 soldiers in raid. Reuters. December 2011. 28 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141028112958/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/01/ozatp-eritrea-rebels-idAFJOE7B006P20111201. 28 October 2014. live. dmy-all.
  13. Web site: Ethiopia: Tourists kidnapped after deadly Afar attack. BBC. 18 January 2012. 28 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305234638/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16610890. 5 March 2016. live. dmy-all.
  14. Web site: Ethiopia says four kidnapped in Afar tourist attack. Reuters. 18 January 2012. 28 October 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20130218002816/http://afriport.hu/angol-nyelv-hirek/11585-ethiopia-says-four-kidnapped-in-afar-tourist-attack.html . 18 February 2013.
  15. Web site: Ethiopian Army attacks alleged rebel bases in Eritrea. Sudan Tribune. 15 March 2012. 2 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141112143954/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article41919. 12 November 2014. live. dmy-all.
  16. Web site: Exiled Eritrean rebel groups plan joint military attack against regime. Sudan Tribune. 7 September 2013. 2 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141112154256/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article47958. 12 November 2014. live. dmy-all.
  17. Web site: Eritrean rebels kill 7 intelligence agents. Sudan Tribune. 22 December 2014. 20 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150107175712/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article53429. 7 January 2015. live. dmy-all.
  18. News: US News. 5 August 2015. Battle Breaks Out on Ethiopia-Eritrea Border. https://web.archive.org/web/20150807211100/http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/07/10/ethiopia-police-30-armed-people-killed-on-eritrea-border. 7 August 2015. live. dmy-all.
  19. Web site: First commercial flight in 20 years leaves Ethiopia for Eritrea. First commercial flight in 20 years leaves Ethiopia for Eritrea. tr-TR. 2018-07-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20180718142957/https://www.trtworld.com/africa/first-commercial-flight-in-20-years-leaves-ethiopia-for-eritrea-18996. 2018-07-18. live.
  20. News: Aaron. Maasho. 2018-08-02. Flags, flowers greet first Ethiopia-Eritrea flight in 20 years. Reuters. https://web.archive.org/web/20180802162550/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-eritrea/flags-flowers-greet-first-ethiopia-eritrea-flight-in-20-years-idUSKBN1K80NF. 2018-08-02. live.