The Ethiopia-Eritrea Conflict (1998 – 2000)

Eritrea became independent from Ethiopia in 1993 after more than two decades of conflict. Even after Eritrean independence, the economies of Eritrea and Ethiopia were highly interdependent. Eritrea used Ethiopian currency, and Ethiopia shipped its exports from Eritrean ports.

The Eritrean-Ethiopian War of 1998-2000 was a tragic conflict that resulted in a widespread loss of life, as well as other injury and damage, for these two developing countries in the Horn of Africa.

On May 6-7, 1998, small-scale clashes occurred between Eritrean military and Ethiopia militia or police patrols in a remote area along the western part of the Eritrean-Ethiopian boundary near a town called Badme.

On 12 May 1998, Eritrean armed forces supported by tanks and artillery invaded the town of Badmä and the surrounding area. Eritrea crossed through the Badme plain to higher ground in the east, and attacked several other areas in Ethiopia’s Tahtay Adiabo Wereda, as well as places in the neighboring Laelay Adiabo Wereda.

Initially, Ethiopian resistance to the invasion was minimal, mostly involving Ethiopian militia and police equipped solely with small arms. Ethiopia moved quickly, however, to deploy its military forces to the region where they took up defensive positions to prevent any further Eritrean advance.

Eritrea then occupied the town of Badme, followed in June by the towns of Shiraro, Zala Ambassa and Tsorena. An interim settlement proposed by the OAU was accepted by Ethiopia. At the same time, a much-criticized mass deportation of people of Eritrea origin began from Ethiopia.

During a temporary ceasefire in late 1998, both sides built up their military forces. Renewed fighting, now with heavy artillery and air power, erupted in February 1999. The conflict was devastating to countries, delaying development and international aid funds.

In February 1999, Ethiopia launched an offensive and recaptured Badme, followed by repeated attempts by Eritrea to reverse its loss. In May 2000, Ethiopia launched another offensive breaking through Eritrean defenses and captured not only the disputed territory, but also advanced to take control of large tracts of Eritrean territory not under dispute.

After seizing high positions north of Senafe, Ethiopian forces stopped, and both sides assumed defensive positions along a new front, this time inside Eritrea. For a few days, Ethiopian forces entered Eritrea’s Areza, Mai Mene, and Adi Quala Sub-Zobas.

In December 2000, a formal peace settlement was signed in Algiers. In April 2001, a 25km deep demilitarized strip which ran the length of the internationally recognized border on the Eritrean side, was set up under UN supervision.
The Ethiopia-Eritrea Conflict (1998 – 2000)

History of coffee in Africa

Studies have shown that coffee is native to the Kaffa province southwest of Ethiopia. Coffee Arabica grew here wild. And it was here that the local inhabitants began using the bean for their own, evolving purposes. 

The origins of coffee are shrouded in mystery and brim with unanswered question.

The most common story is that, in year 850, it was a shepherd, called Kaldi, who discovered the use of the coffee bean about four centuries ago, in a region of Abyssinia (Ethiopia).

The shepherd noticed that some of his goat became hyperactive after eating red cherries from nearby tree. 

This happened several times. The shepherd then decided to taste these strange berries for himself. Raw berries were hard to chew, so he took some to the village. The shepherd decided to roast them to make them edible.

He tasted some roast beans and his sleepy eyes got wide open. All village people liked it as it kept awake during long prayers.

At first, coffee beans were chewed rather than ground, roasted and turned into liquid. Later people crushed the roasted seeds into powder and poured boiling water to make a tasty drink.

Another legend suggested that coffee was consumed by the Oromos and other contemporaneous tribes in ancient Ethiopia about 1500 – 3000 years ago but mostly as snack not a drink.

There was also a legend gives the name for coffee or mocha. An Arabian was banished to the desert with his followers to die of starvation. In desperation, Omar had his friends boils and eat the fruit from unknown plant. Not only did the both save exiles, but their survival was taken as a religious sign by residents of the nearest town, Mocha.

The plant later migrated from Ethiopia to Arabia, where it was developed as a beverage 800 years ago. By the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, cultivation had become common in Yemen.

In order to protect their new product, Arabian rulers mandated that no beans could be exported from the region until they had been fully roasted or boiled, both being processes that destroy the seed’s germinative powers.

Coffee first spread to Europe from northern Africa by way of Venice, Italy, a leading port during the sixteenth century.
History of coffee in Africa