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Explanation
Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic state put together in the late
19th century by the emperors, but based on an Amharic speaking
core. In many ways it has been analogous to Russia. Its state
religion was a form of Christianity similar in some social respects
to Russian Orthodoxy (though it is actually Monophysite in doctrine rather than
Orthodox). The landholding system was feudal and the ruler was,
like the Tsars, essentially absolute - though, considering the
poor communications, less effectively in control.
The ruling ethnic group has been the Amharic speakers.
Eritrea was occupied the Italians as a colony from 1899 until
1941. From it the Italians invaded Ethiopia itself in 1935, from
which they were removed during the second world war.
Following the war the Italians were reinstated in Eritrea
under UN trusteeship after a short period of British control.
In 1952 Eritrea was transferred to Ethiopian control, with the
condition that it would remain a separate territory. In 1962
Haile Selassie ignored this condition and annexed Eritrea as
a province. The Eritrean Liberation Front was formed in 1966
after corrupt Ethiopian administration. From then the Eritreans
fought for independence.
Ethiopia was part of the American system of alliances while
neighboring Somalia was supported by the Soviet Union.
In 1974 there was a revolution which overthrew the last emperor,
Haile Selassie. He was replaced by a military government, still
drawn from the Amharic group. This government, the Dergue, allied
itself with the Soviet Union and adopted Marxist-Leninist symbolism
and policies.
The Americans and their satellite tracking station were ejected
and transferred their alliance to Somalia.
Soviet advisors then assisted the Ethiopian government in
fighting the Eritrean People's Liberation Front and the Eritrean
Liberation Front and other secessionists - no doubt using their experiences in Afghanistan, with the same unsuccessful result.
There have also been wars with Somalia over the Ogaden territory,
inhabited by Somalis but occupied by Ethiopia.
In 1990 the Soviet Union had withdrawn its help and the Ethiopian
government came under serious pressure. It was defeated in May
1991. Following this the rebels formed a government. Local insurgencies
continue on a smaller scale.
By September 1992 it seemed likely that the Oromo peoples
were resuming the civil war. However, this war did not develop.
Nevertheless there are many potential conflicts.
In 1998 a new war broke out with Eritrea. It is not clear
what cause there was, other than the ownership of a piece of
land where the frontier had been demarcated in the time when
Eritrea was an Italian colony.
Somalia
In 2006 there is a new threat of war. The arrival of the Islamic
Courts Union to power in parts of Somalia is seen by the Ethiopian
government as a threat. There are Ethiopian "advisers"
in Somalia assisting the Somali Provisional government, based
in Baidoa. There are also reports that Eritrea may be assisting
the ICU in Mogadishu. Thus there is the possibility of a proxy
war with Eritrea, in Somalia. The ICU has threatened Jihad with
Ethiopia in response.
Ethiopia invaded Somalia and dispersed the ICU. Their troops
now face constant guerrilla activity. Ethiopia was supported
by the US. There have been renewed attacks on Eritrea in March 2012 because of EritreaÕs support for the Shabab faction in Somalia.
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