‫جذور النزاع الأثيوبي – الاريتري‬ ‫في الفترة من 8991 – 0002م‬

Abstract

This study explored the root causes of the Ethio-Eritrean war which took place from 1998 to 2000, and its impact on both states; after the mutual military and political cooperation between the two fronts which had been crowned by the deposing of Mangistu regime in 1991 and hence the liberation of Eritrea. The research aimed at exploring the most important causes that have led to that war. The incompatibility of the economic and political vision of both regimes was the cardinal cause that have led to that war, in addition to the secrecy with which the leaders of both regimes have thrown over the numerous conflicting issues and their illusive confidence that these issues can be tamed through political negotiations. Likewise, the pressure which some major ethnic groups have practiced on President Melles Zenawi on the ground that he had been lax in preserving Ethiopian interests when he decided to let Eritrea be independent. The lack of confidence on both sides made every party waiting for the other to revenge from him. However, the ambition of both regimes to play a regional role that tally with the US interests in the region exacerbates the already fragile situation much more. The study adopted the descriptive analytical and historic approach to understand the background and consequences of that war. The study used many sources including books, published reports, internet and periodicals. The study came up with the following conclusions: firstly; on the economic side the war led to impoverishment of the people of the two countries and caused mismanagement to their meager resources. Secondly; on the political front, the war led to the tightening of the public freedoms and the suppression of democratic change. Thirdly; the social dimension has also been tarnished by the war which prevented the two people from fulfilling the dream of settlement after decades of war. Fourthly; the war caused a rupture in the US strategy for the reason and also it reshaped the internal and external alignments of the two regimes.