War in the Horn

The war that broke out between Ethiopia and Eritrea in May 1998 is one of the bloodiest of recent times. yet prior to the fighting these neighbours were governed by movements that were close allies, and led by men who had been personal friends. This discussion paper examines the region's pre-colonial past and the impact of settlement after the Second World War. It suggests how differing concepts of nationalism developed for the TPLF and the EPLF, the two liberation movements that overthrew the Ethiopian regime in 1991, and charts the checkered record of cooperation between them. The paper outlines the unfolding of the dispute, from a small-scale skirmish on an ill-defined border to a heavy military confrontation including the use of tanks, air power and massive numbers of ground troops. It describes the spread of the conflict, its economic and human consequences and the diplomatic efforts within the region, on the continent and by the international community.