Eritrean People's Liberation Front
Encyclopedia
The Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) was an armed organization that fought for the independence of Eritrea
from Ethiopia
. It emerged in 1970 as an intellectual left-wing group that split from the Eritrean Liberation Front
(ELF).
EPLF and ELF first struggled during the Eritrean Civil War. In the early 1980s, new armed conflicts between the rival EPLF and ELF led to the latter being marginalized and pushed into neighboring Sudan
. The EPLF remained the only relevant opposition to Ethiopian occupation in Eritrea
.
The EPLF captured many Ethiopian soldiers during the war for independence and kept them in numerous prisoner of war
camps, although their captured soldiers were not afforded the same treatment. Due to the humanitarian ethic of the EPLF however, these POWs were not harmed by their captors.
During its protracted struggle the EPLF constructed an underground hospital
. In these hospitals surgeries were conducted as well as the production of various medicines. The front also constructed schools in the liberated areas.
In 1988, the EPLF started an attack from the northern province of Sahel
towards the south. The (nominally) Marxist EPLF emerged as the dominant rebel force and continued the struggle for independence. In 1991 the EPLF succeeded in liberating Eritrea on May 24th, 1991.
Adi Hawsha - Sela'e Da'ero front (Southern front),
Militray Retreat (Soviet intervention),
Ela Beri'ed,
Massawa I (Salina salt fields) 1977,
Nakfa,
Afabet,
Massawa II 1990,
Ginda'e front,
Dekemihare front
Weki duba (1975),
Asmera,
Ona and Besigdira,
Om Hajer,
Hirgigo,
Shi'eb,
and other countless towns and villages.
Massawa
The Second Congress brought together the EPLF and the Eritrean Liberation Front/Central Leadership (also sometimes referred to as Central Command, CC) in what was called the Unity Congress. This was the culmination of negotiations over three years which had brought together the two fighting forces in October 1986 under a unified command.
The Third, and most recent Congress of the EPLF was held in 1994 in Asmara
. It was important as it converted the Front from a military organization to a purely political movement. At this Congress, the name of the organization was changed to the People's Front for Democracy and Justice
(PFDJ).
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
from Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. It emerged in 1970 as an intellectual left-wing group that split from the Eritrean Liberation Front
Eritrean Liberation Front
The Eritrean Liberation Front was the main independence movement in Eritrea which sought Eritrea's independence from Ethiopia during the 1960s and 1970s. In the very late 1950s unorganized political movement seeking independence was secretly active as small cells...
(ELF).
Background
The EPLF was an egalitarian movement in which 30% of the fighters were women. Its influence in the extremely patriarchal and conservative Eritrean society was significant.EPLF and ELF first struggled during the Eritrean Civil War. In the early 1980s, new armed conflicts between the rival EPLF and ELF led to the latter being marginalized and pushed into neighboring Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. The EPLF remained the only relevant opposition to Ethiopian occupation in Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
.
The EPLF captured many Ethiopian soldiers during the war for independence and kept them in numerous prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camps, although their captured soldiers were not afforded the same treatment. Due to the humanitarian ethic of the EPLF however, these POWs were not harmed by their captors.
During its protracted struggle the EPLF constructed an underground hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. In these hospitals surgeries were conducted as well as the production of various medicines. The front also constructed schools in the liberated areas.
In 1988, the EPLF started an attack from the northern province of Sahel
Sahel
The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition between the Sahara desert in the North and the Sudanian Savannas in the south.It stretches across the North African continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea....
towards the south. The (nominally) Marxist EPLF emerged as the dominant rebel force and continued the struggle for independence. In 1991 the EPLF succeeded in liberating Eritrea on May 24th, 1991.
Battles
Adi Yakob - Embaderho front (Northern front),Adi Hawsha - Sela'e Da'ero front (Southern front),
Militray Retreat (Soviet intervention),
Ela Beri'ed,
Massawa I (Salina salt fields) 1977,
Nakfa,
Afabet,
Massawa II 1990,
Ginda'e front,
Dekemihare front
Massacers and Executions
Low lands - Akurdet (1975),Weki duba (1975),
Asmera,
Ona and Besigdira,
Om Hajer,
Hirgigo,
Shi'eb,
and other countless towns and villages.
Massawa
Administration
The First Congress of the EPLF occurred in January 1977 and formally set out the policies of this new organization. At this first meeting a Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General were elected and a program adopted. This program specifically targeted a liberalization of women's rights as well as a broad educational policy for maintaining every language and improving literacy. It was also set out that the boundaries of a liberated Eritrean state would be based on the colonial treaties of Italy.The Second Congress brought together the EPLF and the Eritrean Liberation Front/Central Leadership (also sometimes referred to as Central Command, CC) in what was called the Unity Congress. This was the culmination of negotiations over three years which had brought together the two fighting forces in October 1986 under a unified command.
The Third, and most recent Congress of the EPLF was held in 1994 in Asmara
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
. It was important as it converted the Front from a military organization to a purely political movement. At this Congress, the name of the organization was changed to the People's Front for Democracy and Justice
People's Front for Democracy and Justice
The People's Front for Democracy and Justice is the current ruling political movement in Eritrea. It is nominally and often considered African socialist and holds itself open to nationalists of any political affiliation. It is the successor to the Eritrean People's Liberation Front...
(PFDJ).