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Old Problems in New Conflicts: Some Observations on Eritrea and its Relations with Tigray, from Liberation Struggle to Inter-State War

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

Richard Reid
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Abstract

This article examines the problematic relationship between Eritrea and Tigray as represented by the Eritrean and Tigray Peoples’ Liberation Fronts. The EPLF won independence for Eritrea in 1991, at the same time as the TPLF seized power in Ethiopia; the two movements had had a difficult relationship, beginning in the mid-1970s, during their respective armed struggles, and the issues which had caused disagreement remained unresolved as the movements made the transition to government. This paper examines the nature of those issues and the degree to which the war of 1998-2000 between the two countries can be seen to have reflected much older tensions and indeed contradictions in the Eritrean–Tigrayan/Ethiopian relationship. Thus, the paper begins with an overview of Eritrean opinion, during the recent war, about the relationship in question, and then moves back in time to the era of the liberation struggle. Here, the author attempts to explain the complexities of the respective Eritrean and Tigrayan revolutions insofar as each impinged on and influenced the other, with particular reference to the issues of frontiers, nationality and ethnicity, and sovereignty. The paper, finally, considers the apparent paradoxes in the perceptions which Eritreans have of Tigray and Ethiopia, and suggests that changes in attitude are necessary on both sides of the Mereb river border if the relationship is not to be defined by perpetual confrontation.

Résumé

Cet article examine la relation problématique entre l'Erythrée et le Tigray, tel que les représentent l'EPLF et le TPLF. L'EPLF (Front populaire de libération de l'Erythrée) a obtenu l'indépendance de l'Erythrée en 1991, au moment où le TPLF (Front populaire de libération du Tigray) prenait le pouvoir en Ethiopie ; dès le milieu des années 1970, ces deux mouvements ont entretenu des rapports difficiles durant leurs luttes armées respectives, et les objets de désaccord étaient toujours irrésolus au moment où ces mouvements sont arrivés au pouvoir. Cet article examine la nature de ces désaccords et dans quelle mesure la guerre de 1998–2000 entre les deux pays a pu refléter des tensions beaucoup plus anciennes et des contradictions dans la relation Erythrée–Tigray/Ethiopie. L'article commence par étudier l'opinion érythréenne sur la relation en question au cours de la récente guerre, puis remonte jusqu’ à la période de la lutte pour la libération. L'auteur tente d'expliquer la complexité des révolutions érythréenne et tigréenne dans la mesure où chacune affecte et influence l'autre, concernant notamment les problèmes de frontières, de nationalité et ethnicité, et de souveraineté. Pour finir, l'article évoque les paradoxes apparents de l'idée que se font les Erythréens du Tigray et de l'Ethiopie, et suggère qu'un changement de comportement devra s'opérer de part et d'autre du Mereb, fleuve frontière, pour que la relation cesse de se définir par une confrontation perpétuelle.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 73 , Issue 3 , August 2003 , pp. 369 - 401
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2003

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