Second Afar insurgency

Second Afar insurgency
Part of the Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict
The Afar Triangle highlighted in dark orange
Date 1995 – present[1] (21 years) Location Afar Triangle Afar Region, Ethiopia Dankalia, Eritrea Status Ongoing
Belligerents
ARDUF[2][3]  Eritrea (against RSADO and allies)[2]	RSADO DFEU DMLEK ENSF EPLF SPDM  Ethiopia (against ARDUF)[4]
Commanders and leaders
Mohamuda Ahmed Gass[5] Ahmed Umer Kakay	Ibrahim Harun Yasin Mohamed[1][6] Siraj Fergessa
Casualties and losses
275–569 killed in total

The Second Afar insurgency is an ongoing insurgency in the Afar Triangle, waged by various Afar rebel groups. Both Ethiopia and Eritrea have supported rebel groups in the region in an alleged proxy war, and have occasionally engaged in border skirmishes with each other, as well as with opposing rebel groups.

Background

The Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF) was founded in 1993, through the merging of three Afar rebel groups, the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Union, the Afar Ummatah Demokrasiyyoh Focca (AUDF), and the Afar Revolutionary Forces (ARF). The three groups were united under the goal of creating an independent state in the Afar Region. The group operates within Ethiopia, allegedly receiving Eritrean support. In 1995, ARDUF perpetrated its first attack, kidnapping an Italian tourist. The victim was later released unharmed.^[2][3][7]

The Red Sea Afar Democratic Organisation (RSADO) was founded in 1999. Along with the Eritrean National Salvation Front (ENSF), the group operates from bases located in Ethiopia, launching attacks into Eritrean territory. Both groups are allegedly supported by Ethiopia.^[3][8][9]

Timeline

Before the 2000s

• In 1995, the ARDUF insurgents kidnapped and later released an Italian tourist.^[3]

2000–2009

• In 2002, a splinter faction of the ARDUF abandoned the insurgency, and joined the Ethiopian political scene.^[3]
• In 2003, the ARDUF issued a statement, forbidding foreigners from entering the Afar region.^[10]
• In March 2007, the ARDUF kidnapped 5 European tourists and 13 Ethiopians in the Danakil Depression.^[10]
• On 16 November 2008, RSADO insurgents claimed to have killed over two hundred government troops during an attack in a military training center. The group announced that it had killed over 285 Eritrean military officers including top military leaders in a military training center, in the remote Denkelliya region of Afambo local area. According to a rebel spokesmen, fighters sneaked up to the military base at around 8:30 local time, and bombarded a hull packed with over 450 Eritrean military officers who were celebrating the end of higher military training. The rebel official added that they also hit a truck carrying gas tanker and a generator outside which completely turned the whole area into a massive fire and end up the fun and laughter into shouts, crying and dead bodies. The group explained the success of the attack claiming it was taken along with the 200 deserted government soldiers who had every inside information needed to accomplish the attack.^[11]
• On 26 January 2009, RSADO insurgents reportedly killed 20 and wounded 30 soldiers, in the aftermath of an attack on a military camp in the Denkalya region of Eritrea.^[6]

2010

• On 1 January 2010, ENSF and RSADO assumed responsibility for two attacks in Kokobay and Kermeti, Eritrea. In the aftermath of the attacks 25 Eritrean soldiers were killed and 38 wounded. The attackers' losses amounted to 10 men killed and 2 captured. According to United States and Eritrean intelligence service sources, the attacks were perpetrated by the Ethiopian army.^[12][13]
• On 22 April 2010, the RSADO and ENSF launched a coordinated attack on several Eritrean military camps in the south of the country. Both rebel groups said in a joint statement that they had briefly taken control over the camps and seized weapons and military intelligence. The attack occurred at around 3 o'clock in the morning and rebels were reported to have held it for three more hours until government forces returned with reinforcements. A total of 11 government soldiers were killed and 20 injured. No rebel casualties were reported. On 28 April, a RSADO spokesman put the army death toll higher at 18 killed and a number of supplies captured during the "surprise" onslaught.^[14]

2011–present

• In March 2011, ARDUF claimed to have killed 49 Ethiopian soldiers.^[3]
• In April 2011, the Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi for openly declares for the first time that his government will support rebel groups fighting to overthrow president Isaias Afewerki.^[15]
• On 22 October 2011, RSADO and ENSF claimed to have killed 12 and wounded 15 Eritrean soldiers, after they launched coordinated attacks on the towns of Kermed, Adi Metras, Ingra Abo and Adi Tela’a.^[16]
• On 1 December 2011, the ENSF and RSADO launched a dawn raid on an Eritrean military base in the southern part of the country in Enda Haji near the town of Tsorono. An RSADO spokesmen Yasin Mohamed said his forces held the area until 11am, before they returned to their positions in the safe havens of Ethiopia where the group's headquarters is located. A total of 17 government soldiers were killed, five were injured, and two soldiers were captured by rebel fighters.^[17]
• In 2012, RSADO killed 30 Eritrean soldiers in a single attack on a military base.^[1]
• On 17 January 2012, the ARDUF killed 5, injured 3 and kidnapped 4 people, in the aftermath of an attack on the Erta Ale volcano.The majority of the victims were foreign tourists.^[18][19]
• On 15 March 2012, the Ethiopian army carried a cross border raid into Eritrea, destroying three ARDUF camps in: Ramid, Gelahbe and Gimbi. An Ethiopian spokesman claimed that the rebels were receiving Eritrean training.^[20]
• On 7 September 2013, RSADO and Saho Peoples Democratic Movement (SPDM) formed an alliance in order to jointly combat the Eritrean government.^[4]
• On 29 April 2014, RSADO claimed to have killed 27 Eritrean intelligence agents, in the aftermath of an attack on military camp.^[1]
• On 22 December 2014, RSADO and DFEU claimed joint responsibility for an attack on a military camp located in Adi-Kala, allegedly killing 7 intelligence officers.^[21]
• In July 2015, clashes between a newly formed armed group and the Ethiopian army left 50 reported killed on 2 July and 30 killed in the counter-attacks on 10 July.^[22]

See also

• Afar Insurgency
• Eritrean War of Independence
• Ethiopian Civil War
• Eritrean–Ethiopian War
• 2013 Eritrean Army mutiny

References