NCJ Number
62335
Journal
Orbis Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1974) Pages: 427-450
Date Published
1974
Length
24 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE HISTORY AND ACTIVITIES OF ERITREAN REBELS IN ETHIOPIA, THIS PAPER ANALYZES THE NATURE OF INSURGENCY AND THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE, AS WELL THE IMPACT OF PROTRACTED INSURRECTIONS ON THE INTERNATIONAL ORDER.
Abstract
REBELS WHO ARE DENIED LEGITIMACY FROM THE CENTER, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY REPRESENT THE IDEOLOGICAL SOPHISTICATION OF THE URBAN ELITE OR THE ENDEMIC DISORDER OF THE BUSH, MAY RESORT TO WAGING ARMED STRUGGLE COVERTLY WITH TACTICS THAT ARE CONVENTIONAL IF NOT ILLICIT. THE IMPERIAL ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT HAS LONG WAGED SUCH A BATTLE WITH INSURGENTS IN THE NORTHEASTERN PROVINCE OF ERITREA, A STRUGGLE THAT HAS DRIFTED THROUGH CYCLES OF VIOLENCE AND QUIESCENCE AND HAS INCREASED TENSION WITHIN THE AFRICAN HORN AND AMONG THE MAJOR POWERS. ALTHOUGH ETHIOPIAN CLAIMS TO ERITREA HAVE AN ANCIENT HERITAGE, THE ARMED STRUGGLE OF THE ERITREAN LIBERATION FRONT (ELF) DID NOT BEGIN UNTIL 1961, WITH OPERATIONS RANGING FROM SIMPLE BRIGANDAGE TO BOMBING AND ASSASSINATION. INITIALLY, THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE WAS TO IGNORE THE ERITREANS; LATER, AS THE MOVEMENT BECAME MORE VIOLENT AND EFFECTIVE (AND AS IT WAS COUPLED WITH ETHIOPIA'S CHANGING POLITICAL FORTUNES, THE YOM KIPPUR WAR, ETC.), THE GOVERNMENT UNLEASHED ITS MILITARY FORCES TO SUPPRESS THE REBELS, SIMULTANEOUSLY MAINTAINING THAT THE ELP DID NOT EXIST AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDED NO ALLIED HELP. AS A RESULT OF THIS STRATEGY, ETHIOPIAN DEVELOPMENT WAS UNHAMPERED AND INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ENCOURAGED. THE ERITREAN EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT, FOR AN INSURRECTION TO BECOME BOTH ENDEMIC AND INTERNATIONALIZED, THESE FACTORS MUST EXIST: AN INDIGENOUS BASIS FOR DISORDER, FIRMLY GROUNDED IN TIME-HONORED ATTITUDES; AND THE INJECTION OF A POLITICAL COMPONENT (I.E., MARXIST CADRES, BLACK NATIONALISM, PAN-ARABISM) TO EXPLOIT THE DISORDER UNDER A FASHIONABLE BANNER. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (WJR)