The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is a secular sovereign state of East Africa and Africa’s second most populous country. Half of its total population (109,154,262) is Christian. The northern provinces of the country is predominated by the followers of Christianity. The southern region has sizeable number of Muslims. Among different sects of Christianity, Orthodox Christians are in absolute majority. The Ethiopian Orthodox Union Church headed by a patriarch is regarded as one of the oldest churches and connected with the Coptic church of Egypt; was the state church of Ethiopia until 1974. Ethiopia was also a home ground of 30,000 adherents of Judaism commonly known as Flashas who between 1980 and 1991, at different phases, emigrated to Israel.
The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the Red Sea coast had become a boon for the colonial masters and with the passage of time proved to be a bane for already resource crunched nations of Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular. Italy, out of greed to stretch out its colonial power, focused its attention on Ethiopia seizing Aseb and Mitisiwa in 1872 and 1885 respectively. In 1889 the Italians claimed that it made all of Ethiopia their protectorate. As a result of the annexation policy of Italy, a war broke out between Ethiopia and Italy. After a year-long battle the Ethiopians won the battle. Out of helplessness, the Italians recognised the independence of Ethiopia.
With the rise of the dictator Benito Mussolini in the political arena of Italy, once again Italy captured Ethiopia in October 1935. The then League of Nations miserably failed to rescue Ethiopia. In May 1936 Mussolini proclaimed Victor Emmanuel III of Italy as Emperor of Ethiopia. The then Emperor Haile Selassie was dethroned by the dictator Mussolini. Seeing no other option Selassie fled away from Ethiopia and took refuge in England. After five years of political asylum in England, Selassie was restored to the throne in 1941 by the joint actions of British and Ethiopian forces. The same year a British protectorate was established; it lasted until 1952.
When the United Nations decided to federate Eritrea with Ethiopia as a compromise between Eritrean demands for independence and Ethiopian claims for annexation. Haile Selassie unilaterally transformed Eritrea into a province of Ethiopia. This gave unprecedented rise to the establishment of a national resistance movement, the Eritrean Liberation Front [ELF] followed by a military struggle against Ethiopia. After a fierce battle which lasted almost 20 years, Eritrea got independence in 1993. The independence of Eritrea forced Ethiopia to become a landlocked country.
The resources of both the countries are primarily agricultural. In terms of economy, health and education the concerns of both Ethiopia and Eritrea are similar. Their economies are in bad shape and unemployment is on the rise. Despite having close geographical, historical, and cultural bonds and common fundamental interests, both being the poorest nations of the globe are also fighting with common socio- economic and religio-political issues and internal strife.
A massive current of change is sweeping high in both the sovereign nations after assuming power by the peace loving leaders like President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea and Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia by signing a Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship on the historic day of July 9, 2018 in Asmara, the national capital of Eritrea. The two leaders have done a commendable job for restoring peace and stability in the entire region. They have mutually consented to settle the issue of territorial border dispute through further dialogue and discussions; perhaps reminding the rest of the world of the popular saying of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin that “peace has no border”.
There is no denying that the two sides of young African leaders have taken a pragmatic step; putting a full stop to apparently an unending conflict.
Hats off to the duo and their fellow countrymen!
[The writer has previously taught at Gondar University, Ethiopia; [email protected]]