Ethiopia: Information on treatment of members of the Afar tribe by the transitional governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia since the fall of the Mengistu government
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 July 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ETH11196 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ethiopia: Information on treatment of members of the Afar tribe by the transitional governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia since the fall of the Mengistu government, 1 July 1992, ETH11196, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab1d38.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Indian Ocean Newsletter of 30 May 1992 describes the situation of the Afars in Ethiopia as "very complex" and their balance of power as "delicate" (Ibid., 2). The present government of Ethiopia reportedly supports the Afar Liberation Front (ALF) headed by the elderly Sultan Ali Mirah. Meanwhile, officials who were responsible for the administration of the autonomous Afar region, established by the former head of the Ethiopian government, Mengistu Haile Mariam, are reported to still be in prison. However, other young Afars, based outside the Aussa region, are reported to have formed a rival organization, the Afar Democratic Organization (ADO). This organization reportedly draws its support from some Tigrean members of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) based in Makele. The Eritrean leaders, on the other hand, are reported to be distrustful of the Afar because they fear that a united Afar group could at some point lead to the establishment of a "Greater Afar" region and the Eritreans would then lose control of the Danakil region and the port of Assab, both of which are strategic trade links with the external world (Ibid., 2).
The Indian Ocean Newsletter of 4 January 1992 states that "the leaders of Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia seem to be haunted by the spectre of an "Afarisation" movement seeking to unite all the Afar regions of countries into one "greater Afar land". The Indian Newsletter of 19 October 1991, reports that a movement called the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union (ARDU) was formed by former leaders of the Assab region. These members of the Afar tribe advocate autonomy for the Afars and complete secession from both Eritrea and Ethiopia. However, according to the The Indian Ocean Newsletter of 21 September 1991, there were heavy clashes between the Afars and the EPLF. This same source reports that there were also clashes with the EPRDF during which many people were either killed or wounded.
For further information on the relationship between the Afars and the present governments in Ethiopia and Eritrea, please refer to the attached documents.
References
The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 30 May 1992. "Ethiopia: The New Afar Scene," p. 2.
. 4 January 1992. "Horn of Africa: Fearing a "greater Afar land", pp. 1-2.
. 19 October 1991. "Ethiopia: Afar Organization Opts for Secession," p. 5.
. 21 September 1991. "Ethiopia: Clashes Between EPRDF and Afars,", p. 3.
Attachments
The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 30 May 1992. " Ethiopia: The New Afar Scene," p. 2.
. 4 January 1992. "Horn of Africa: Fearing a "greater Afar land", pp. 1-2.
. 19 October 1991. "Ethiopia: Afar Organization Opts for Secession," p. 5.
. 21 September 1991. "Ethiopia: Clashes Between EPRDF and Afars,", p. 3.
. 27 July 1991. "Ethiopia: Ethnic Federalism," p. 1 & 3.
. 6 July 1991. "Ethiopia: Settling the Afar Problem," p. 5.
. 28 July 1990. "Ethiopia: The TPLF and the Afar Question, " p. 5.
. 8 December 1990. Ethiopia: EPDRF to Launch Afar Organization," p. 3.
