The Afar Dimension on the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict about the Red Sea Access
The Afar people are an ethnic Hamitic group, pastoralists who speak a Cushitic language. The inhabitants
call themselves Afar and the name ‘Danakil’ is given to them by the Yemeni and
non-Arab speakers. Their language is called ‘Afar Af’ or ‘Tongue of the Afar’
where ‘Af’ means ‘tongue’ or ‘mouth’. They live in the Afar Region of Ethiopia (2.5
million), as well as in the coastal parts of Eritrea (250,000) and Djibouti
(400,000).
The Afar Triangle, also known as the Afar Depression or
Danakil Depression, is a geological depression caused by the Afar Triple
Junction, which is part of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa. This area is
one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth, with some parts lying more than
100 meters below sea level. The lowest point in in the Afar depression and Africa,
Lake Asal, less than 155 meters below sea level, lies in Djibouti.
The region is noted for its extreme heat and aridity, as well
as its unique geological features, including salt flats, hot springs, and active
volcanoes. Despite the challenging environment of the Afar Triangle,
characterized by its extreme heat and aridity, the Afar people have adapted
over centuries to thrive in these conditions. No foreign forces have entered
the Afar territory by force. The region is also known for its rich mineral
deposits and the presence of various unique species adapted to the harsh
environment.
The Afar Triangle is not only significant for its geological
and ecological aspects but also for its importance in the study of human
evolution. The area has been a rich source of hominid fossils, contributing
significantly to the understanding of human ancestry and evolution.
Source: Hashim Al Shami book
The independent Afar Sultanates historically controlled the
coastal area stretching from the Dahlak
islands (including Buri peninsula) to Zeila. These sultanates entered into 15
agreements[1]
with major regional powers, including Italy, France, and England (detailed in
Al Shami’s book with copies of these powers' original languages and in Arabic).
One notable agreement involved the sale of land in Assab on March 11, 1870,
between the Italian shipping company Soreta Rubattino and the leader of the
Ankala Afar tribe.
This deal, aimed at acquiring a site in Assab for use as a
bunkering station, was signed by Giuseppe Sapeto and A. Buzzolino on behalf of
the company, and by Afar chiefs Hassan Bin Ahmed, Abdella Shehim, and Ibrahim
Bin Ahmed. Historically, the Afar people have formed strong, unified kingdoms
on multiple occasions, characterized by a highly decentralized system. At
times, up to twenty-four tribal chieftains held the power to independently
declare war against their adversaries, particularly the Habesha (Ethiopia),
without needing the sultan’s consent.
Around the first quarter of AD 1528, Ahmed Ibrahim leader of
the Adal Sultanate defeated King Lebna
Dingl’s army at Shembra Kure. During 1528–1533, army occupied Dire Dawa, Shoa,
Lasta, Bale, Sidama, and Gurage. He moved then to #Tigray and occupied all the
regions up to Kassala (Taka) in AD 1535. Sultan Mohamed Hanfare defeated King
Menelik’s army at Arrado in 1875 and the Egyptian army led by Munzinger in 1875
at Odoummi, where Munzinger lost his life.
Eritrea and Ethiopia support proxy Afar organisations
The dynamics between Eritrea and Ethiopia are significantly
influenced by their interactions with Afar groups. During the rivalry between
the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) and the Tigray People's
Liberation Front (TPLF), both countries supported different Afar organizations
to leverage against each other. In Eritrea, the Ethiopian Afar opposition,
supported by Eritrea, advocated for a true Afar state in Ethiopia, free from
TPLF control. Conversely, the Eritrean Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization
(RSADO), operating clandestinely in Eritrea but based and supported by
Ethiopia, campaigns for an autonomous Afar state in Eritrea, with rights to
self-determination and even secession.
The Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF), also known as Uguguma (meaning revolution), was active in Zones 2 and 4 of Ethiopia's Afar region. After the Ethio-Eritrean war, the Ugugumo split into two factions. One faction, led by Mohamouda Ahmed Gaas, chose to align with the Ethiopian government. The other faction continued its opposition activities and eventually relocated to Eritrea, where it received support.
Ugugumo after Eritrean independence was opposed to both governments in Addis and Asmara and hence targeted by coordinated attacks by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces. This opposition faction of the Ugugumo experienced a shift in its stance after Abiy Ahmed became the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Heeding Abiy's call for all opposition movements to return to Ethiopia, this faction, along with other groups like the ONLF and OLF who were also based in Eritrea, moved back to Ethiopia. Upon their return, the Ugugumo ceased their confrontations with the federal government. During the recent conflict involving the Tigray forces, the Ugugumo played a central role in the Afar confrontation, indicating their active and significant presence in the region's political dynamics.
Additionally, the Eritrean Afar National Congress (EANC), primarily based in the Canadian diaspora, lobbies for an autonomous Afar region in Eritrea. Ahmed Mohamed, the Chairman of the EANC, is a prominent voice in this cause. Which sometimes raised the question if it were a one-man or a few men organization. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently argued that most Afar live in Ethiopia's Afar region and thus should have access to the Red Sea, a contention with implications for regional geopolitics.
This situation mirrors that of the Kurds, an ethnic group
native to a mountainous region in Western Asia, Kurdistan, spanning Turkey,
Iran, Iraq (including the autonomous Kurdistan region), and Syria. With an
estimated population of 25 to 35 million, primarily in Turkey, their situation
raises questions about territorial rights and access, similar to the debates
surrounding the Afar people. If we were to follow Abiy’s argument, can we say
all Kurds ought to have access to Turkey, because the majority of them live
there.
First Italian colony in Afar region
of Assab and how Eritrean borders evolved
The first Italian colony was founded in the Afar region of
Assab on 5 July 1882, by a royal decree of King Umberto I of Italy. Later,
parts controlled by Italy were incorporated and Eritrea, with its current borders was established by
Italy in 1890, expanded in 1936 to include Tigray, which was later reorganized
into six divisions including the Afar region of Denkalia. The British restored
Eritrea's original borders in 1941. Eritrea was federated with Ethiopia by a UN
resolution in 1952. Ethiopia annexed Eritrea as its 14th province in 1962.
Map of
Eritrea 1912
Over time, administrative divisions continued to change, and in 1987, the Derg regime divided Eritrea into two autonomous zones, with the southern coast including Assab and parts of the Tigray and Wollo provinces becoming one zone, accommodating about 60% of the Afar in both Eritrea and Ethiopia. It was only after the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was approved in 1995, all the Afar in Ethiopia were brought under one state, After Eritrea gained independence in 1991, it reverted to its former borders without physical demarcation due to friendly relations with TPLF. A border conflict in 1998 escalated into a war that lasted until 2000, concluding with the Algiers Agreement, which called for the establishment of a Boundary Commission. Ethiopia accepted the Commission's ruling reluctantly and did not actively implement it, resulting in a tense stand-off that persisted until the rise of Abiy to power in 2018.
It is to be noted that the Afar has actively participated in the Eritrean war of Liberation. Due to their knowledge of the Red Sea and use of boats, they were crucial in bringing military and other supplies to the revolution. Yet some Afar elites remined loyal to Ethiopia.
The Djiboutian Dimension*
Djibouti, situated along the 370-km Red Sea coastline from
Ras Doumeria to the Gulf of Aden, is neighboured by the Indian Ocean to the
east. This nation is home to two primary ethnic groups: the Afar and the
Somali. Historically, in 1892, France shifted its focus from Obock,
predominantly Afar, to the city of Djibouti, fostering a diverse community of
Afar, Somalis, and Arabs. In 1896, France consolidated its territories into
what was known as Côte Française des Somalis et dependences, or French
Somaliland. Later, in 1967, it was renamed the French Territory of the Afar and
the Issas.
Administratively, Djibouti is divided into five regions and
a city. The Afar mainly reside in the Tağura, Obock, and Dikhil regions, while
the Somalis are primarily found in Ali Sabieh and the newer Arta region. The
Afar region encompasses about 87% of Djibouti's land area. The capital city,
Djibouti City, is home to roughly two-thirds of the country's population.
Djibouti gained its independence in 1977. As of 2023,
according to the CIA World Factbook, the population of Djibouti is around 1
million, with Somalis making up 60%, Afar about 35%, and the remaining 5%
comprising Yemenis and other nationalities. But the Afar dispute this
statistics.
In Djibouti and Ethiopia, the Afar and Somali pastoralist
communities have experienced ethnic tensions
due to competition for land and resources. This conflict is further complicated
by their differing perspectives on the history of the Adal State, once led by
Imam Ahmed, also known as Ahmed Gran in Abyssinia. Both groups assert their
historical connection to this state. Conflicts have erupted between the Afar
and Somali regional states in Ethiopia over disputed territories, and these
clashes occasionally extend into Djibouti, affecting the broader region.
Zeila, a coastal town in present-day Somaliland, located 37
km southeast of Djibouti, is another focal point of contention. The Afar claim
historical dominance in Zeila. From the time the port became significant in
Islamic history, it was inhabited by a diverse mix of Arab, Somali, and Danakil
(Afar) populations. Over time, these groups gradually merged, creating a unique
Zeila culture and dialect, which is a fusion of Arabic, Somali, and Afar
languages.
In subsequent years, Somalis moved further into the area,
with their population bolstered by arrivals from Italian and Ethiopian
territories to the north. By the 19th century, Somalis became the dominant
group in this region. It is noteworthy that Awdal, one of the six regions in
Somaliland and historically a part of the Adal State, has a secessionist
movement. The capital of Awdal is Borama, also known as Awdal, Adal, or Adel.
Italian map 1936
Map of Ethiopia 1987 during the Mengistu regime
Before the 1994 constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of #Ethiopia, came into force in August 1995, the Afar were split into four provinces: Tigray, Wollo, Showa and Harar. Though it became a regional state, it was controlled by the deep state of the TPLF until 2018, when Abiy Ahmed came to power, Since then then the TPLF deep state was replaced by Abiy's deep state. It is Abiy's loyalists who control the state.
Map of Ethiopia 1995
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Map of Eritrea 1993
Eritrea was administratively
organised into six regions in 1996
[1] Hashim
Al Shami, Al Manhal, The Source in the History and Narratives of the Afar
(Danakil). A more than 700 pages book
was published in Egypt in 2018 and is the English translation of the Arabic
edition that appeared in 1997 in Egypt. An earlier Arabic edition (Saudi
Arabia, 1994) and an Amharic translation (2007) exist as well.
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