[By Amare]
First Genocide of 1984: “Blockade, Starvation and the Perished Tigrayan Population by the Genocidal Actions of the EPLF”
In 1984, during the height of Ethiopia’s famine, the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) actively obstructed critical aid routes to Tigray from Sudan. By blocking access to the only viable path for food and essential supplies, the EPLF enacted a deliberate plan to inflict severe suffering and starvation upon the Tigrayan population. The Eritrean forces at that time held strategic positions along the Sudanese border, intentionally preventing Tigrayans from receiving the humanitarian aid essential to their survival.
The Consequences and Impact
Loss of Life: Over half a million Tigrayans perished as a result of starvation. These were preventable deaths, a calculated consequence of the EPLF’s actions, marking the first explicit genocidal intent committed by Eritrean forces against the people of Tigray.
The Enduring Trauma
The memory of these atrocities is imprinted in Tigrayan history, marking Eritrea as a lasting adversary.
Quote for Reflection: “Starvation was not an accident but a weapon, wielded to eliminate Tigray’s strength, spirit, and will to survive.”
Second Genocide of 1991: The Wave of Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing, Mass Expulsion and Deportation of Tigrayans from Eritrea—”Erased and Exiled”
On May 29, 1991, after the EPLF entered Asmara and assumed control, Eritrea began a systematic campaign targeting the Tigrayan community. Hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans who had resided and contributed to Eritrea for generations were subjected to expulsion, brutal treatment, and economic ruin. This violent expulsion coincided with Eritrea’s provisional government and reflected a policy of ethnic cleansing.
The Impact of “Mass Deportations and Property Confiscations”
Tigrayans in Eritrea were deported en masse, their properties seized. Inhumane acts of violence marked this campaign, including the forcible extraction of the gold teeth of men and women and the confiscation of personal belongings.
Ethnic Cleansing
This was a calculated move by the Eritrean regime to erase any Tigrayan presence, identity, and influence within Eritrea.
Quote for Reflection: “Our homes were taken, our lives shattered; the world watched as the regime of Isaias Afewerki erased Tigrayans’ existence in Eritrea.”
Third Genocide of 1998: The Badme War and Genocidal Acts of Massacres, Rape, Bombing of Civilians, and Relentless Aggression
The Badme War as a Prelude to Genocide: The 1998 Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict escalated into yet another instance of Eritrean forces targeting Tigrayan civilians. The Eritrean air force bombed schools, killing over 100 children. This aggression extended to widespread violence, with many Tigrayans killed, deported, and subjected to brutal acts of sexual violence. The Eritrean regime used these actions to instill fear, assert dominance, and cause irreparable harm to the Tigrayan populace.
The Consequences and Impact of Systematic Killing and Violence
The Eritrean regime engaged in targeted attacks on civilians, inflicting immense suffering and trauma upon Tigrayan families.
Psychological Scars
The bombing of schoolchildren remains one of the most painful memories in Tigray’s collective history, symbolising the deliberate intent of Eritrea to destroy Tigray’s future generations.
Quote for Reflection: “In the smoke of bombed classrooms and the cries of our lost children, the Eritrean regime revealed its true intent to exterminate the Tigrayan identity and race.
Fourth Genocidal War of 2000-2020: The Cumulative Aggression and Support for Anti-Tigray Forces, “Unending Hostility and Eritrea’s Campaign of Destabilisation”
From 2000 to 2020, the Eritrean regime continued to antagonise Tigray by arming various militant groups, including the Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab. Eritrea trained and supported insurgent groups with the clear intent of destabilising Tigray and undermining its leadership. Infiltrators disguised as refugees further spread discord, leading to heightened tensions and insecurity in the region.
The Consequences and Impact of Unrest and Insecurity
Eritrea’s involvement in Tigray’s affairs, particularly through indirect channels, stoked ongoing violence and instability.
Strategic Isolation
By fostering anti-Tigray forces, Eritrea perpetuated a state of insecurity that undermined Tigray’s development and peace efforts.
Quote for Reflection: “The Eritrean regime’s hand in destabilisation knows no borders; it stretches into the heart of Tigray to fuel division and discord.”
The Fifth Genocide of 2020-2022: The Ultimate Betrayal: The Eritrean Regime Engineering of the Tigray Genocide of 2020″
During the Tigray Genocide, the Eritrean regime planned and led a campaign of unparalleled brutality and cultural and economic destruction. Massacres, gang rapes, destruction of infrastructure, looting of properties, and cultural annihilation marked a concerted effort to obliterate the Tigrayan people. Religious sites, ancient artefacts, and irreplaceable symbols of Tigrayan heritage were desecrated or stolen, leaving deep scars on Tigray’s cultural landscape.
The Consequences and Impact of Mass Killing and Atrocity Crimes (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing)
Hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans were murdered, and nearly half a million women suffered from rape and sexual violence. The magnitude of the atrocities underscores the Eritrean regime’s intention to annihilate the Tigrayan population.
The Cultural and Historical Loss
Eritrea’s forces not only took lives but also destroyed the historical foundations of Tigray’s identity. Churches, manuscripts, and artefacts that survived millennia were reduced to ruins or looted.
Quote for Reflection: “They came not only to take our lives but to erase our history, our culture, our identity, and our very existence.”
Conclusion
The Unforgivable Legacy of the Eritrean Regime’s atrocity crimes and “Eternal Vigilance: A Call for Justice and Accountability”
For every Tigrayan, the Eritrean regime’s genocidal actions on Tigray represent an unforgivable chapter in our history. From blocking aid to enacting mass killings, Eritrea’s leadership has proven its deep-seated enmity toward Tigray. Every act has been marked by intentional brutality, reinforcing its position as Tigray’s historical enemy. Efforts for reconciliation are not mere words; they carry the weight of generational trauma, loss, and an unbroken commitment to justice.
The People of Tigray Final Reflection: “To forget is a betrayal. We remember not out of hatred but out of an unyielding commitment to justice. This pain is our legacy, and our perseverance is to bring the genocidaires to justice.”
Appendix
Timeline of Events and Genocidal Crimes Committed by the Eritrean Regime:
- 1984: Starvation as a Weapon of War—Blocking Aid to Tigray
- 1991: Ethnic Cleansing—Expulsion of Tigrayans from Eritrea
- 1998: Border War and Civilian Massacres
- 2000-2020: Support for Anti-Tigrayan Forces
- 2020-2022: Tigray Genocide—Massacres, Sexual Violence, and Cultural Destruction
International Calls for Accountability Actions: Tigray can seek through international bodies, including the UN, Universal jurisdiction and ICC, to pursue justice and expose Eritrea’s repeated genocidal war against Tigray.
Essential Resources: document atrocity crimes (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing) and gather victims’ testimonies for further context on Tigray’s suffering and Eritrea’s role in Tigray genocide. This document is a solemn reminder that the Tigray genocide was committed by the Eritrean regime repeatedly against Tigray is etched in history and remains an unhealed wound for the Tigrayan people.