("Massicci Nei Dintorni Di Senafe, 15")
Key Groups
Several key groups played major roles in the armed resistance by organizing fighters, supporting civilians, and challenging government control in different ways. Each group contributed uniquely to the movement’s survival and growth.
The Eritrean Liberation Front
The Eritrean Liberation Front (commonly referred to as ELF) aimed to achieve Eritrean independence through armed struggle. The group organized guerrilla fighters, established training camps, and relied heavily on rural communities for support (Lyob).
“The struggle of the Eritrean people for national liberation is a just struggle that every progressive Eritrean should actively support.”
“The Eritrean revolutionary struggle should be mass-based, i.e., popular, democratic, secular and with internationalist outlook.”
(“Eritreans for Liberation in North America”)
Opposing Authorities
“The Emperor’s most immediate problem is the continuing insurgency of the Eritrean Liberation Front, armed by radical states and increasingly sophisticated at sabotage, with harsh reprisals further strengthening its appeal among the local population" - President Nixon
to
ELF Responses
“During our 30-year armed struggle for independence, we lived with war every hour of every day. We got used to pain and sacrifice. Many of us were wounded, yet we continued because Eritreans had no alternatives left after peaceful efforts were suppressed” - Samuel Ghebhrehiwet ("Eritrea Viewpoint")
("Vanguard Special Issue")
(“Eritreans for Liberation in North America”)
The Eritrean People's Liberation Front
Unlike the ELF, the EPLF emerged later and focused on tighter organization, political education, and self-reliance. The group emphasized discipline, unity across ethnic and religious lines, and long-term strategy in its fight for independence (Lyob).
“Our best intelligence judges that… the insurgency in Eritrea is increasingly sophisticated at sabotage. Harsh reprisals by Ethiopian troops have also helped to strengthen the appeal of the insurgents among the local population of Eritrea" - President Nixon
to
“I joined the liberation army as a 16-year-old, inspired by tales of Ethiopian aggression and the image of freedom fighters, determined to fight for Eritrea’s independence" - Samuel Ghebhrehiwet ("Eritrean Viewpoint").
("Vanguard Special Issue")
“My brother is not he who was born from the womb of my mother.
My brother is he who grows with me in revolt.
My brother is the one who does not bend, does not accept.
The liberation of his people is his reason for living.”
Eritreans saw each other as “brothers” because they fought together and not because they were related by blood ("Vanguard Special Issue").
Many Eritreans were willing to sacrifice their personal lives for freedom because in their eyes it was something worth dying for.
1st image: ("EPLF Fighter", Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
2nd image: ("Vanguard Special Issue")