How did Eritrea gain independence whilst the somali region didn't?

[Hair Guru]

The somali region has a larger population compared to Eritrea, therefore more ability to recruit soldiers for the war.

The Somali region was also provided with mass weapons from Mogadishu and there was greater desire to break somali region compared to Eritrea (i.e. Somali region is largely distinct from the ethiopian population and Eritrea shared a culture (Abyssinian culture) along with language/ethnicity at the time (tigrinya/tigrayan).

My question is, what is it somali region lacked that Eritrea had?

Any historians able to chip in?

 

[Zapfox1]

During the 77 Ogaden war, Somalia was actually winning and even made it close to Addis Ababa in the Oromia region. However Russia and cuba came in due to Communist reasons and gave Ethiopians more military equipment and even soilders. Over $1 billion military suppliers was given to the Ethiopian army. Unfortunately, we were pushed back and the Somali government lost two thirds of Somali galbeed. The war Siad barre regime also started to go through the problems that caused the civil war around this time. But the main reason somaliweyne wasnt a possibility and never will be is due to the British


Ethnic Somalis and the idea of somaliweyne geopolitically was destined to fail. The British who were largely in control of setting up most African and Asian third world borders hated Somalis due to them resisting British colonisation and humiliating them in battle. Even Ethiopia never resisted against British rule as much as we did. Therefore they made sure Somalia ,even till today, never progresses to become a prospering nation for all ethnic Somalis. No coincidence at all that we are the largest ethnic group splitted into different countries and the main country is considered a failed state.

P.S ethnic Somalis are the 6th largest ethnic group in Africa beating the Amhara and Bantu in terms of population

 

[Hair Guru]

During the 77 Ogaden war, Somalia was actually winning and even made it close to Addis Ababa in the Oromia region. However Russia and cuba came in and gave Ethiopians more military equipment and even soilders. Unfortunately we were pushed back and lossy the war. Siad barre regime also started to go through the problems that caused the civil war around this time. But the main reason somaliweyne wasnt a possibility and never will be is due to the British


Ethnic Somalis and the idea of somaliweyne geopolitically was destined to fail. The British who were largely in control of setting up most African and Asian third world borders hated Somalis due to them resisting British colonisation and humiliating them in battle. Even Ethiopia never resisted against British rule as much as we did. Therefore they made sure Somalia ,even till today, never progresses to become a prospering nation for all ethnic Somalis. No coincidence at all that we are the largest ethnic group splitted into different countries and the main country is considered a failed state.

I understand your argument about Somaliweyne and the British, however the somali region has been resisting the ethiopian government even before somalia became a state.

Even if Somalia never got involved, why is it the somali region army did not make as much attention/military damage as the Eritrean army? I read online that the Eritrean army got most of its equipment from the Ethiopian army, so I guess that's all the Eritreans were left to fight with. How did Eritrea manage that but not somali region? Even if you exclude Somalia from the argument, I'm still a bit confused by the success of Eritrea and lack of by the somali region.

 

[Zapfox1]

I understand your argument about Somaliweyne and the British, however the somali region has been resisting the ethiopian government even before somalia became a state.

Even if Somalia never got involved, why is it the somali region army did not make as much attention/military damage as the Eritrean army? I read online that the Eritrean army got most of its equipment from the Ethiopian army, so I guess that's all the Eritreans were left to fight with. How did Eritrea manage that but not somali region? Even if you exclude Somalia from the argument, I'm still a bit confused by the success of Eritrea and lack of by the somali region.

Because Eritreans are more unified than Somalis. Despite being from different religious and ethnic groups. Pre 1960, Before foreign influences, everything in Somalia was tribal . No such thing as unified national military so every tribe fought their own fights. Back then, it was all Ethiopian ethnic groups against certian clans living in Somalia galbeed ( Not even all) That’s an unfair fight. However in recent history, I believe ONLF could have beaten the Ethiopian government 10 times over. But it’s because ever since the Ogaden war, The Ethiopian military had a strong hold and military presence in the region. So much so that if the Somalis even had a meeting to discuss war, the Ethiopian military was already aware. The Eritreans had one shot at fighting for independence and because it was their first time, it was unexpected and they therefore were able to secede and there wasn’t any foreign countries getting involved directly or indirectly. But the Ethiopian military wouldn’t risk the Ogaden region being at risk more than once. They learnt their lesson the first time but luckily for them foreign influence came for the rescue

 

[Waaqmasho]

Eritreans are united, somalis were not and still aren't united. Even during 1977 war, cracks appeared within the many tribes of the Somali region. After 1977 somalis didn't continue to fight as one. WSLF broke up due to tribal problems and ONLF inherited it's position.

ONLF could not match up to the WSLF in terms of diversity and were largely one sub clan. That's why they had limited success. Another thing is that when EPLF captured ADDIS, all the main ethnic groups of Ethiopia came to the table to negotiate but ONLF was absent and didn't participate. That was a big problem, so ethiopia got split up without having a say. They should have made some connection with the EPLF who liked the somalis and asked to have a seat at the table. EPLF would have allowed them. I guess they never considered themselves Ethiopian and didn't think of a political solution.

Also if the kacaan outlasted mengitsu by just 1 year, the outcome would have been way different. It's too bad that the somali government was already weak by then and got broken up before they could do anything.

 

[Hair Guru]

Hmm I see. @Zapfox1 It looks like your argument is more on the lines of the Ethiopian army putting more focus/pressure on the somali region due to the surprise resistance in the north (Eritrea). Nevertheless, because of the Eritrean War of Independence, wouldn't that mean most of the Ethiopian government at the time was distracted in the North compared to the East? (Somali region)

@Waaqmasho Wow that's actually so shitty. Imagine if they were united in the somali region, they could have done amazing for themselves.

 

[repo]

Somali region is arid and flat terrain which is unsuitable for guerilla warfare, Eritrea is mountainous which allows resistance and cover.

Eritrean rebels EPLF were the backbone of the coalition that entered Addis Ababa in 1991 so being the strongest group and the rest of Ethiopia too weak to resist, they were able to dictate terms. The terms were catastrophic given Ethiopia became landlocked but it shows the might of the Eritreans.

 

[InaShaqalle]

Well DDS can be an independent country according to the Ethiopian constitution so before Abiy or another Ethiopian leader decides to ban secession the Somali region better decide quickly whether to leave or not however no blood must be shed meaning it's OK if DDS remains part of Ethiopia

 

[Hair Guru]

Well DDS can be an independent country according to the Ethiopian constitution so before Abiy or another Ethiopian leader decides to ban secession the Somali region better decide quickly whether to leave or not however no blood must be shed meaning it's OK if DDS remains part of Ethiopia

I'm not sure of the Ethiopian constitution but that is interesting. Seems like a risky policy to have.

Thanks for adding that.

The thread however is more focused on the Ogaden war so lets not get distracted too quickly!

 

[Hair Guru]

Somali region is arid and flat terrain which is unsuitable for guerilla warfare, Eritrea is mountainous which allows resistance and cover.

Eritrean rebels EPLF were the backbone of the coalition that entered Addis Ababa in 1991 so being the strongest group and the rest of Ethiopia too weak to resist, they were able to dictate terms. The terms were catastrophic given Ethiopia became landlocked but it shows the might of the Eritreans.

I see. Yeah the Eritreans did very well for themselves. I do find it interesting the Tigrinya in Eritrea decided to join allegiance with the more foreign Tigre/Saho/Bilen etc groups and not their kin across the border in Tigray who share more culture and identity with them.

 

[Zapfox1]

Hmm I see. @Zapfox1 It looks like your argument is more on the lines of the Ethiopian army putting more focus/pressure on the somali region due to the surprise resistance in the north (Eritrea). Nevertheless, because of the Eritrean War of Independence, wouldn't that mean most of the Ethiopian government at the time was distracted in the North compared to the East? (Somali region)

@Waaqmasho Wow that's actually so shitty. Imagine if they were united in the somali region, they could have done amazing for themselves.

Yeah you could say they were more focused on the North. This could be because Amhara and tigray were the leading ethnic groups in Ethiopia back then and they are both habesha along with the ethnic groups in Eritrea. Therefore they would be more focused on their habesha bethrins who they are more culturally aligned with leaving them compared to random muslim somalis. Nevertheless they were still focused on Somali galbeed as that land is pretty much a good 30% of Ethiopia’s land mass

 

[InaShaqalle]

Can anyone give me their opinion why Isaias hasn't yet been overthrown unlike Mengistu and MSB?

 

[Aurelian]

Starting the game too early, Eritrean forces were part of other liberation forces fighting mengistu and Ethiopian army, when they won, they went off, and Tigray forces, one of the biggest forces that won, were friends with the Eritreans.

 

[Kanan]

During the 77 Ogaden war, Somalia was actually winning and even made it close to Addis Ababa in the Oromia region. However Russia and cuba came in due to Communist reasons and gave Ethiopians more military equipment and even soilders. Over $1 billion military suppliers was given to the Ethiopian army. Unfortunately, we were pushed back and the Somali government lost two thirds of Somali galbeed. The war Siad barre regime also started to go through the problems that caused the civil war around this time. But the main reason somaliweyne wasnt a possibility and never will be is due to the British


Ethnic Somalis and the idea of somaliweyne geopolitically was destined to fail. The British who were largely in control of setting up most African and Asian third world borders hated Somalis due to them resisting British colonisation and humiliating them in battle. Even Ethiopia never resisted against British rule as much as we did. Therefore they made sure Somalia ,even till today, never progresses to become a prospering nation for all ethnic Somalis. No coincidence at all that we are the largest ethnic group splitted into different countries and the main country is considered a failed state.

P.S ethnic Somalis are the 6th largest ethnic group in Africa beating the Amhara and Bantu in terms of population

Al lot of conspiracy theories in your post. Eritrea never backed down if it's demand for secession. The Somalis swallowed TPLF bait of ethnic federalism and article 39 willingly competing in Ethiopian elections where they won and immediately tried to trigger the process which lead to federal government crackdown.


Eritrea in comparison established it's own sperate government independent of Zenawi's transitional go government and pressed for a mutually agreed referendum supervised by UN. TPLF (Ethiopian government) & EPLF (Eritrean government) both were fighting side by side against Selassie than the DERG so they had open communication channels and Afwerki wisely distanced himself from the new Tigrayan led government.



In 1991 every group had a chance to separate but they fell for Tigrayan promise of referendum and ethnic federalism.

 

[Kanan]

Can anyone give me their opinion why Isaias hasn't yet been overthrown unlike Mengistu and MSB?

He arrested and killed all his political and military rivals. There was an Islamic military faction called ELF in Eritrea apposed to him but Afweki crushed them all and went nuts after losing 98 war with Ethiopia turning the country into open air prison.

 

[Zapfox1]

Al lot of conspiracy theories in your post. Eritrea never backed down if it's demand for secession. The Somalis swallowed TPLF bait of ethnic federalism and article 39 willingly competing in Ethiopian elections where they won and immediately tried to trigger the process which lead to federal government crackdown.


Eritrea in comparison established it's own sperate government independent of Zenawi's transitional go government and pressed for a mutually agreed referendum supervised by UN. TPLF (Ethiopian government) & EPLF (Eritrean government) both were fighting side by side against Selassie than the DERG so they had open communication channels and Afwerki wisely distanced himself from the new Tigrayan led government.



In 1991 every group had a chance to separate but they fell for Tigrayan promise of referendum and ethnic federalism.

Yeah I agree. Oromos and somalis got fucked over with the whole ethnic federation back in 1991. But then again somalis could have just joined Somalia but oromo simply can’t just be its own country. I doubt the UN would have allowed so many pocket countries in one area

 

[Oday-yar]

Somalis are not united in Somali region, Eritreans are.
Somalis in Somali region did not get an international backing, Eritrea did.
People think it's going to be a war between Somalis in galbeed vs Ethiopia when in reality it will be Somalis in galbeed vs Ethiopia+US+UK etc.. that's not a war we will win.

 

[Ibz0]

Lack of unity, WSLF failed because they chose to attack the Isaaq division among them and fight inside the movement.


DDS will only work when there is fair representation between the Cisa, Gadabursi, akisho, jarso, bajimal and other dir, Habar awal, arap, garhajis, other issaq, degoodi, garre, geeri, jidwaq, harti, reer aw hassan, other hawiye, other somali clans that all live there. Not just Ogaden.

 

[Abba Sadacha]

The somali region has a larger population compared to Eritrea, therefore more ability to recruit soldiers for the war.

The Somali region was also provided with mass weapons from Mogadishu and there was greater desire to break somali region compared to Eritrea (i.e. Somali region is largely distinct from the ethiopian population and Eritrea shared a culture (Abyssinian culture) along with language/ethnicity at the time (tigrinya/tigrayan).

My question is, what is it somali region lacked that Eritrea had?

Any historians able to chip in?

Eritrean borders were clearly demarcated during the Italian occupation/colonization. Somali states weren't.
Eritreans weren't divided along clan lines. Somalis kinda...are.
Eritreans overwhelmed the Ethiopian army in battle.... The somalis Haven't yet.
Etc etc etc