The Afar Rebellion: Case No

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Case N°3: 1972 – 1989: The Ugugumo rebellion and civil wars in Ethiopia The Afar rebellion: Case no. 3 LIBYA East Africa: Main conﬂicts between geopolitical motivations The Afar rebellion: 1980 et 2006 CHAD KhaKhartoum Asmara and control over land geopolitical motivations ERITREA and resources and control over land and resources SUDANSUDA DJIBOUTI

SOMALIA Addis- ETHIOPIA CENTRAL AFRICAN Abeba REPUBLIC

DRC 1972 – 1989: The Ugugumo rebellion and UGANDA KENYA Main conﬂits civil wars in Ethiopia Refugees and 700.000 deaths displaced persons: 300.000 deaths

150.000 deaths 6.000.000

Area of high food insecurtiy 1.800.000 and famine 300.000 The Afar pastoralist communities are dispersed over the Capital desertic high plateau of the Awash valley, in the heart of The Afar pastoralist communities are the Horn of Africa, an area also refered to "Afar triangle". Source: UNHCR 2007 dispersed over the desertic high plateau of

Successive drought periods – notably 1972, 1973, 1974the Awash valley, in the heart of the Horn of 1979 and 1976 – reduced pasturelands and pushed the AfarAfrica, an area also refered to “Afar triangle”. further into in the fertile lands of the valley.

Successive drought periods – notably 1972, This increased pressure on resources created 1972 tensions between all neighbouring communities1973, 1974 and 1976 – reduced pasturelands (Oromo from Wello, Tigrayan, Argobba, Somali, etc.) andand pushed the Afar further into in the fertile the Afar. The uprising – " l'Ugugumo" in Afarlands – of the valley. progressively became a military movement feared by the regime of Hailé Sélassié and later by the armed autonomy 1977 This increased pressure on resources and loyalist movements of the Menguistu regime. created tensions between all neighbouring AMHARAS In 1972, of the Eritrean independence war betweencommunities (Oromo from Wello, Tigrayan, Ethiopia and the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF)Argobba, Somali, etc.) and the Afar. began. L'Ugugumo fought the EPLF secessionists andThe uprising – “ l’Ugugumo” in Afar – demanded the uniﬁcation of the Afar nation. progressively became a military movement

Defending the Afar identity and territory was also a mainfeared by the regime of Hailé Sélassié and driver in the armed conﬂict against the Tigrayan People'slater by the armed autonomy and loyalist Liberation Front (TPLF) from 1977 to 1989 and thenmovements of the Menguistu regime. against the Issa from Djibouti from1991 to 1996. From 1993 the Eritrean and Ethiopian army joined forces to ﬁght In 1972, of the Eritrean independence war the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF) O Awash valley M which continues to move its radius of activity southwarbetweend. Ethiopia and the Eritrean People’s O OR 1986 Liberation Front (EPLF) began. L’Ugugumo fought the EPLF secessionists and demanded the unification of the Afar nation.

State borders Defending the Afar identity and territory Afar cultural area (Afarland) Dessert /arid was also a main driver in the armed conflict against the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front Main Afar transhumance routes Semi-arid (TPLF) from 1977 to 1989 and then against 1986 Date of conﬂict the Issa from Djibouti from1991 to 1996. Savanah From 1993 the Eritrean and Ethiopian army Armed opposition against the TPLF Temperate and joined forces to fight the Afar Revolutionary sub-alpines Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF) which Armed opposition against the EPLF continues to move its radius of activity Marshlands AMHARAS Other armed opposition (agriculture, southward. no irrigation)

Security Implications of Climate Change in the Sahel Region © SWAC 2010 1

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Case N°3: 1990 – 1996: Armed insurrection: 1990 – 1996: Armed insurrection: partly motivated Case no. 3 partly motivated by growing pressure on resources The Afar rebellion: by growing pressure on resources The Afar rebellion: geopolitical motivations LIBYA East Africa: Main conﬂicts between 1980 et 2006 geopolitical motivations and control over land and control over land CHAD KhartoumK Asmara and resources and resources ERITREA

SUDANSUDA DJIBOUTI

SOMALIA CENTRAL Addis- ETHIOPIA AFRICAN Abeba REPUBLIC

DRC UGANDA KENYA The coming to power of the Ethiopian Main conﬂits Refugees and Peoples’s Revolutionary Democratice Front 700.000 deaths desplaced persons: (EPRDF)* in July 1991 provoked a massive 300.000 deaths 6.000.000 150.000 deaths arrival of Tigrayan farmers on the lands of 1.800.000 Area of high food insecurtiy 300.000 the Awash valley and on Afar pasturelands. and famine The installations of large-scale horticulture Capital

and sugar cane farms were accompanied by Source: UNHCR 2007 expropriation of Afar herders. These large scale agricultural investments coincided with The coming to power of the Ethiopian Peoples's three years of large reductions in rainfall Revolutionary Democratice Front (EPRDF)* in (1990, 1993 and 1996). July 1991 provoked a massive arrival of S Tigrayan farmers on the lands of the Awash valley and on Afar pasturelands. The The reduction of pasturelands, overgrazing installations of large-scale horticulture and on available land and the construction of 1994 S Eritrea sugar cane farms were accompanied by dams upstream significantly reduced drinking/ S expropriation of Afar herders. These large scale watering possibilities for livestock. The further agricultural investments coincided with three S weakening of herds caused by diseases led 1993 years of large reductions in rainfall (1990, 1993 and 1996). to significant losses of livestock. Affected by S Assab famine, the Afar were forced to move further 1991 The reduction of pasturelands, overgrazing on southwest where they compete with Issa available land and the construction of dams herders over the more humid and fertile areas upstream significantly reduced drinking/ of the Awash. watering possibilities for livestock. The further 1991 weakening of herds caused by diseases led to Ethiopia Djibouti significant losses of livestock. Affected by The suppression of saltmining concessions famine, the Afar were forced to move further 1995 is further hurting the Afar community who southwest where they compete with Issa lived for centuries from this activity. Leading 1994 herders over the more humid and fertile areas to loss of revenues (taxes) and employment. of the Awash. 1993 The pressure of other communities on a The suppression of saltmining concessions is traditional Afar economic monopoly worsened further hurting the Afar community who lived inter-ethnic tensions, in particluar in Djibouti. for centuries from this activity. Leading to loss In 1995, despite signing of a ceasefire several Rainfall (mm/year) of revenues (taxes) and employment. The pressure of other communities on a traditional hundred Afar fled. 0 – 100 mm Significant loss of livestock Afar economic monopoly worsened inter-ethnic 100 – 200 mm tensions, in particluar in Djibouti. In 1995, * Political coalition formed in 1990 between 200 – 300 mm Growing scarcity of pastureland despite signing of a ceasefire several hundred the Tigrayan Peoples’s Liberation Front, the Afar fled. 300 – 400 mm S Suppression of salt mining Eritrean Peoples’s Liberation Front and the concessions Oromo Liberation Front. In May 1991 the Main cities * Political coalition formed in 1990 between the Areas of high insecurity Tigrayan Peoples's Liberation Front, the EPRDF advanced on Addis Ababa leading to Intensive agriculture Eritrean Peoples's Liberation Front and the the ousting of the pro-soviet Mengistu and the 1986 Date of main armed opposition Oromo Liberation Front. In May 1991 the EPRDF taking over of power. Land confiscations advanced on Addis Ababa leading to the ousting of the pro-soviet Mengistu and the taking over of power. Security Implications of Climate Change in the Sahel Region © SWAC 2010 3 SAHEL AND WEST AFRICA Club Secretariat

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