Limits of Available Information:
Available documentation specific to this subject is limited
and oral sources contacted emphasized the second- and
third-hand nature of their information. Several sources
mention the difficulty of obtaining specific information on
the human rights situation in Eritrea. The chairperson of
Texas Southern University's History and Geography department
in Houston said the "system is so tight" in Eritrea it is
difficult to get information on current conditions (4 Mar.
1996). Amnesty International Report 1995 states, for example,
that "information about detentions of government opponents was
difficult to obtain and confirm" (1995, 127).
While Country Reports 1995 was not available at time of
writing, Country Reports 1994 states that "although Eritreans
continue to express their opinions openly on various issues,
there is some self-censorship, especially with regard to the
President and the Government" (1995, 76). The media in Eritrea
is controlled by the government, although the government
promised a new press law for 1995 that would allow for some
private ownership of the media and guarantee freedom of
expression (Demers 19 Mar. 1995, 12; Africa Report May-June
1995, 53). By the third quarter of 1995 the new press law had
not yet been enacted (EIU 3rd Quarter 1995, 23). The Programme
Coordinator of the Ethiopian Association of Toronto stated
that there were no independent sources to confirm or deny
reports of events in Eritrea, and that Eritrean journalists
would not try to report on possible government mispractices
(29 Feb. 1996).
Background:
In May 1991 the forces of the Eritrean People's Liberation
Front (EPLF) defeated the army of Ethiopian President Mengistu
Haile Mariam in Eritrea (Europa 1994 1994, 1064). The EPLF,
formed around 1970, had broken away from the Eritrean
Liberation Front (ELF) after several years of internecine
ethnic and religious fighting within that organization (The
Courier July-Aug. 1994, 11; Africa Today 2nd Quarter 1991,
32). The EPLF assumed power in 1991 and established an interim
government composed primarily of its own members (Europa 1994
1994, 1064). Eritrea achieved formal independence on 24 May
1993 after a UN-supervised referendum in April, in which 99.8%
of those Eritreans who voted endorsed the region's separation
from Ethiopia (ibid.). The country was admitted to the UN on
28 May 1993 (ibid.). Also in May 1993, the EPLF announced that
its provisional government, led by Isaias Afewerki, would
continue for an estimated four years, until after the
development and ratification of a new constitution (see
section entitled "EPLF/PFDJ Position on Political Activity")
(LCHR 1994, 102). In February 1994 the EPLF renamed itself the
People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), a move
Country Reports 1994 describes as intended "to signify its
transition from an insurgent group fighting for independence
to a political movement" (Country Reports 1995, 76).
Main Opposition groups:
A complete list of Eritrea's opposition groups is
unavailable among sources consulted by DIRB. However, the
following partial list has been drawn up based on available
information1:
1. Jihad Eritrea
2. Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) led by Abdella Idriss.
According to a professor with the African Studies Center at
Michigan State University who visited Eritrea in 1995, the
"old ELF has about 8-10 small offshoots (splinter groups)...
It is very hard to call many of them parties or opposition
groups" (24 Jan. 1996). A political science professor at the
University of California at Los Angelos (UCLA), who has
studied African politics since 1960 and visited Eritrea in
1995, agreed that some splinter groups may only have a few
members (1 Mar. 1996).
3. ELF-Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC)2 led by Ahmed
Nasser.
4. ELF-Central Command (ELF-CC) or Central Leadership
(ELF-CL) led by Tewolde Gebreselassie.
5. ELF-United Organization (ELF-UO) led by Mohammed Said
Nawud.
6. Eritrean Democratic Liberation Movement (EDLM) or
Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Eritrea (DMLE) led
by Hamid Turky.
7. ELF-National Council led by Abdulkader Jailany.
8. Democratic Front for the Liberation of Eritrea (DFLE), a
coalition of the ELF-CL and DMLE.
General Human Rights Situation:
Information regarding the overall human rights situation in
Eritrea is somewhat conflicting. In commenting on the
situation in Eritrea in 1994, Country Reports 1994 observes
that "the Government continued to have strong support, and it
generally respected human rights" (Country Reports 1994 1995,
74). According to Country Reports 1994, there were "reliable
reports" of local police detaining people without charge for
extended periods, but there were no reports of politically
motivated killings, disappearances or torture in 1994 (ibid.
74-75). While emphasizing that he is not an expert on Eritrea,
a former law professor at Rutgers University who visited
Eritrea in January 1995 to attend a seminar at the invitation
of the Constitution Commission stated that at the time there
was no visible evidence of repression, very few police or
soldiers were evident, and there was no indication of "hard
actions" on the part of the government pertaining to human
rights abuses (6 Mar. 1996). He added that he could not say
whether the situation has changed since then (ibid.).
In its annual evaluation of levels of freedom in the world
Freedom Review evaluated Eritrea as "Partly Free" in 1995,
giving it six on a scale of seven for "political rights" and
four on a scale of seven for "civil liberties", where "1
represents the most free and 7 the least free category"
(Jan.-Feb. 1996a, 16-17). Countries with a rating of six for
political rights are described as "typically ... systems ruled
by military juntas, one-party dictatorships, religious
hierarchies and autocrats" (Jan.-Feb. 1996b, 14). For civil
liberties "as one moves down the scale below category 2, the
level of oppression increases, especially in the areas of
censorship, political terror and the prevention of free
association" (ibid.). Please see the attachments from this
periodical for further information.
Comments by several oral sources on the general human
rights situation in Eritrea were similar to those of a
Washington immigration and refugee lawyer, who said that "the
climate is still one in which it is difficult to express
political opposition" (1 Mar. 1996). Jeune Afrique states that
protest movements are harshly repressed (9-15 Nov. 1995, 33).
The Programme Coordinator of the Ethiopian Association of
Toronto referred to the Eritrean state as a "police state" (29
Feb. 1996) and the Chairperson of the History and Geography
department of Texas Southern University said that there are
limitations on freedom of movement and freedom of expression
in Eritrea (4 Mar. 1996).
A document published by the ELF-RC on 24 June 1995 states
that the Eritrean government has "committed a number of
atrocities on innocent civilians simply for voicing their
opposition to, or peacefully demonstrating against, its
dictatorial policies and measures" (ELC-RC 24 June 1995 2).
For further information on the ELF-RC's views on the human
rights situation in Eritrea, please see the attachments.
Referring to the opposition as "masters of disinformation,"
the UCLA political science professor stated Eritrea has a
"shining record" on human rights in comparison to the rest of
northeastern Africa (1 Mar. 1996). Similarly, according to the
Swiss Review of World Affairs, Eritrean people "enjoy more
security and freedom than almost anyone else in Africa" (Oct.
1995, 19).
Some current human rights concerns in Eritrea stem from
discontent with the National Service Programme3 as well as
Islamist incursions near the border with Sudan: in July and
August 1995 armed conflict between the government security
forces and rebels broke out in the Assab and Danakil regions
in northwestern Eritrea, reportedly triggered by young men
refusing to do national service (Indian Ocean Newsletter 30
Sept. 1995, 4; The Eritrean Newsletter Aug.-Sept. 1995b, 8-9).
The government arrested and detained numerous people in
connection with these incidents4 (ibid., 8; Indian Ocean
Newsletter 30 Sept. 1995, 4).
Apparently because they did not participate in the war and
the 1993 referendum for independence and now refuse to
participate in national service, the Jehovah's Witnesses, who
represent 2,000 people out of a total population of 3.5 to 4
million, had their citizenship removed in December 1994 and
their passports cancelled; since that time they have lost
their jobs as civil servants, had their business licenses
cancelled and their schools and shops were forced to close
(Libération 21 Apr. 1995; The Eritrean Newsletter June-July
1995a, 11; Africa Report May-June 1995, 52). According to the
Swiss Review of World Affairs, the government's repression of
the Jehovah's Witnesses is partly "to combat all forms of
fundamentalism" (Oct. 1995, 18). President Afewerki has
emphasized the need to keep religion and politics separate in
Eritrea (Africa Report May-June 1995, 53; Demers 19 Mar. 1995,
11; Xinhua 10 July 1995). In early July 1995 he told all
religious leaders that religious groups could not be
politically involved in the country's affairs (ibid.; Horn of
Africa Bulletin July-Aug. 1995a, 7).
Since the Eritrean government cut diplomatic ties with
Sudan on 5 December 1994, accusing it of supporting the
Islamist Jihad Eritrea movement and fomenting conflict in
Eritrea, the Jihad Eritrea has increased its "small-scale"
attacks in western areas around Ali Ghider, Gash/Setit and
Barka near the Sudanese border (Review of African Political
Economy Mar. 1995, 129; EIU 1st Quarter 1995, 21; Africa
Research Bulletin 1-31 Jan. 1995, 11707; Africa Confidential 4
Aug. 1995; Nouvel Afrique/Asie July-Aug. 1995, 25).
Reportedly, the ELF has also carried out similar attacks in
the same areas (ibid.; Africa Confidential 4 Aug. 1995).5 The
Eritrean government has responded by mobilizing its armed
forces and reportedly carrying out several arrests of
suspected supporters of the Jihad Eritrea in western Eritrea
in January 1995 (Africa Research Bulletin 1-31 Jan. 1995,
11708; EIU 1st Quarter 1995, 21; AI 1995, 127; The Eritrean
Newsletter June-July 1995a, 10).
EPLF/PFDJ Position on Political Activity:
Information on the government's position on multipartyism
and democracy is somewhat ambiguous. President Afewerki has
emphasized that the Eritrean government will not permit the
formation of political parties until after the new
constitution is approved by the country (Al-Yawm 15 June 1994;
Demers 19 Mar. 1995, 11; Medhanie Dec. 1994, 2; Professor
African Studies Center 24 Jan. 1996).6 The professor with the
African Studies Center at Michigan State University stated
that people feel the constitution must come first to ensure a
"clean, fair and orderly political competition" (ibid.).
However, individuals and interested groups have been
encouraged to participate in and contribute to the
constitution-making process, but not as political party
representatives (ibid.; New African Sept. 1995).
The President stated shortly after the April 1993
referendum that the EPLF wanted to avoid the "fatal" mistakes
of other liberation movements that had monopolized power and
shut out the opposition (Al-Hayah 22 May 1993). In June of
that year, he stated that the leadership was in the process of
establishing a "government in which all political forces
participate"; he also claimed at that time that the current
government represented all parties and factions (Mena 30 June
1993).
In May 1994, when the president was asked about political
participation of Eritreans outside the country, he stated that
the government did not want to form parties with groups that
are "stuck to the legacy of the ELF ... " (Horn of Africa
Bulletin May-June 1994, 7). The October 1995 issue of the
Swiss Review of World Affairs states that the government will
not allow parties based on "ethnic or religious lines or
around former civil-war factions" (p. 19). A researcher with
the Brookings Institute who works on the Horn of Africa region
and was last in Eritrea during the 1993 referendum indicated
that the PFDJ's dismissal of the ELF is partly due to past
conflict between the two groups7 (1 Mar. 1996).
President Afewerki has suggested that one-party rule and
democracy are not necessarily incompatible, referring to
Eritrea as a "controlled democracy" (Demers 19 Mar. 1995, 11;
Africa Report May-June 1995, 53). According to the Swiss
Review of World Affairs, the leaders of the ruling party
"clearly do not intend to relinquish power in the near future"
(Oct. 1995, 18). Similarly, the UCLA political science
professor does not envisage multiparty democracy in Eritrea
for some time to come (1 Mar. 1996). The PFDJ is reportedly
carrying out a widespread campaign to recruit members (Demers
19 Mar. 1995, 11; Swiss Review of World Affairs Oct. 1995,
19).8
The ELF-RC has denounced the restrictions on political
activity for opposition groups (LCHR 1994, 102; Country
Reports 1994 1995, 77; ELF-RC 24 June 1995, 2) and has called
on the PFDJ to recognize other political movements and allow
them to operate freely (ibid., 3).
Some sources point out that members of ELF factions,
including the ELF-RC, have been accommodated within the
government or have worked with it (Horn Reports 21 Nov. 1992,
3; Indian Ocean Newsletter 12 June 1993, 3). The UCLA
political science professor states, "the majority of the
effective ELF leadership in the field is not actively hostile
to the current PFDJ leadership" (1 Mar. 1996). Some members of
the ELF-RC are among the 50 members of the Constitutional
Commission (Country Reports 1994 1995, 74; Africa Report
May-June 1995, 54; EIU 1st Quarter 1995, 20).
Treatment of the Political Opposition/ELF-RC:
The attached report by Professor Tesfatsion Medhanie of the
University of Bremen states that by the end of 1994 only the
detention of prominent members of the ELF-RC had received
media attention (Dec. 1994, 8). However, the report contends
that "any one actively politicking for the ELF-RC as a member
or a follower of the organisation is targeted by the regime
and even any one with demonstrable sympathy for the ELF-RC
cannot feel quite safe" (ibid.).
The chairperson of the history and geography department at
Texas Southern University stated that based on what he has
heard and read ELF-RC members and their families would likely
be "carefully watched" and perhaps "at risk" if active in
politics against the government (4 Mar. 1996). He specified
that the level of risk depends on the level of participation
(ibid.). Similarly, the researcher with the Brookings
Institute stated that members of the ELF "have to keep a low
profile" and only the ELF factions most critical of the PFDJ
leadership are at risk (1 Mar. 1996). He added that the family
members of the opposition likely face less risk (ibid.).
The UCLA political science professor made reference to the
continued absence of information on ELF-RC members abducted in
Sudan in 1992, and on 26 members arrested in 1994 in Ethiopia,
adding that it is not clear who is responsible (1 Mar. 1996).
Please refer to Response to Information Request ERT19466.E of
19 January 1995 for information on these events.
Amnesty International reports that in 1995 "scores" of
political prisoners remained in detention despite the release
of 132 people detained since 1991 on suspicion of complicity
with the former regime in Ethiopia (1995, 127). Amnesty
International further reports that "several suspected
government opponents were detained without charge or trial" in
1995 (ibid.).
The ELF-RC claims the PFDJ has a widespread network of
informers whose role is "to pry" on the political opposition,
and that these informers have been involved in the detention
and disappearance of "numerous" political prisoners, including
ELF-RC members (The Eritrean Newsletter Apr.-May 1995, 15;
ELF-RC 8 Apr. 1995).
The ELF-RC reports that in mid-1995 the dead body of a
former member of the ELF-UO was discovered in Mansura, Upper
Barka region while another ELF-UO former member was kidnapped
in Asmara by suspected PFDJ spies (The Eritrean Newsletter
June-July 1995b, 14). The Indian Ocean Newsletter reports that
Mahmoud Dinai, a member of the ELF-UO and chairman of the
provincial council in Barka Province, was arrested in early
October 1995 (9 Dec. 1995, 4). Additional and/or corroborating
information on these claims could not be found among the
sources consulted by the DIRB.
This response was prepared after researching publicly
accessible information currently available to the DIRB within
time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport
to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to
refugee status or asylum.
References
Africa Confidential [London]. 4 August 1995. Vol. 36, No.
16. "Eritrea: Asmara's Finest."
_____. 20 March 1992. Vol. 33, No. 6. "Ethiopia: Eritrea's
Hard Road to Independence."
Africa Report [New York]. May-June 1995. Vol. 40, No. 3.
Alan Zarembo. "Eritrea: 'Controlled Democracy'."
Africa Research Bulletin [Oxford]. 1-31 January 1995. Vo.
32, No. 1. "Political Relations: Eritrea-Sudan: Countdown to
Conflict."
Africa Today [Denver]. 2nd Quarter 1991. Vol. 38, No. 2.
Tekle Mariam Woldemikael. "Political Mobilization and
Nationalist Movements: The Case of the Eritrean People's
Liberation Front."
Al-Hayah [London, in Arabic]. 10 December 1993. "Liberation
Front Demands Role for Opposition." (FBIS-AFR-93-240 16 Dec.
1993, pp. 5-6)
_____. 16 September 1993. "Opposition Revolutionary Council
Issues Statement." (FBIS-AFR-93-181 21 Sept. 1993, p. 2)
_____. 22 May 1993. "Afewerki on Constitution, Separation
of Powers." (FBIS-AFR-93-100 26 May 1993, pp. 6-7)
Al-Yawm [Al-Dammam, in Arabic]. 15 June 1994. "President on
Domestic Issues, Ties with Israel." (FBIS-AFR-94-120 22 June
1994, pp. 5-6)
Amnesty International. 1995. Amnesty International Report
1995. New York: Amnesty International USA.
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 30 September 1992. "Four
Eritrean Groups Form Alliance of National Unity to Define
Independent State." (NEXIS)
_____. 6 February 1991.
Chairperson - History and Geography Department. Texas
Southern University, Houston. 4 March 1996. Telephone
interview.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994. 1995.
United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United
States Government Printing Office.
The Courier [Brussels]. July-August 1994. No. 146. Robert
Rowe. "Eritrea; The Rebirth of a Nation."
Demers, Clovis. 19 March 1995. Information Mission to
Eritrea 9 February - 3 March 1995. Montréal: International
Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development.
Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). EIU Country Report:
Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti. 4th Quarter 1995.
"Eritrea." London: Economist Intelligence Unit.
_____. 3rd Quarter 1995. "Ëritrea." London: Economist
Intelligence Unit.
_____. 1st Quarter 1995. "Ëritrea." London: Economist
Intelligence Unit.
Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC).
Foreign Information Department, Bonn. 24 June 1995. Highlights
to the Present Situation in Eritrea.
_____. Foreign Relations Office, Bonn. 8 April 1995. Letter
sent to the DIRB, Ottawa.
The Eritrean Newsletter [Bonn]. August-September 1995a. No.
66. "The Xth Eritrea Festival '95: The Panel Discussion."
_____. August-September 1995b. "Escalating Conflicts in
Dankalia."
_____. June-July 1995a. No. 65. "The EPLF Regime Through
the Eyes of an Eritrea Watcher."
_____. June-July 1995b. No. 65. "News: Arrests, Deaths and
Disappearances on the Rise."
_____. April-May 1995. No. 64. "News: Elimination of EPLF
Informers Continues."
The Europa World Yearbook 1994. 1994. 35th ed. Vol. 1.
London: Europa Publications.
Former Professor of Law. Rutgers University, New Brunswick,
New Jersey. 6 March 1996. Telephone interview.
Freedom Review [New York]. January-February 1996a. Vol. 27,
No.1. "Table of Independent Countries: Comparative Measures of
Freedom."
_____. January-February 1996b. Vol. 27, No.1. "The
Tabulated Ratings."
Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala, Sweden].
September-October 1995. Vol. 7, No. 5. "Secularism,
Nationalism and Democracy Basis for Eritrea's
Constitution."
_____. July-August 1995. Vol. 7, No. 4. "Eritrea: President
Tells Religious Organizations to Stay Out of Politics."
_____. May-June 1994. Vol. 6, No. 3. "President Issaias
Discusses Political Issues; The Press and Opposition
Parties."
Horn Reports [Ottawa]. 21 November 1992. Vol. 1, No. 1.
"Eritrean Unity." Ottawa: OXFAM-Canada.
Human Rights Watch. September 1991. Evil Days: Thirty Years
of War and Famine in Ethiopia. New York: Human Rights
Watch.
Immigration and Refugee Lawyer, Washington. 1 March 1996.
Telephone Interview.
The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 9 December 1995. No.
697. "Eritrea: Opponents Arrested."
_____. 11 November 1995. No. 693. "Eritrea: A Rose by Any
Other Name."
_____. 30 September 1995. No. 687. "Eritrea: Danakil
Rebels."
_____. 12 June 1993. No. 579. "Eritrea: The President's New
Men."
_____. 3 October 1992. No. 544. "Eritrea: Four Fronts Team
Up Against EPLF."
Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 9-15 November 1995. Jean Luc
Eyguesier. "Comment va le petit dernier?"
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1995. Vol.
41. Reference Supplement. "Eritrea."
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (LCHR). 1994. Critique:
Review of the Department of State's Country Reports on Human
Rights Practices for 1993. New York: LCHR.
Libération [Paris]. 21 April 1995. Derek Stewart. "Les
héros de la guerre d'Erythrée sont fatigués."
Medhanie, Tesfatsion. December 1994. "Eritrea 1994: Review
of Human Rights Situation." (Unpublished paper, University of
Bremen).
Mena [Cairo, in Arabic]. 30 June 1993. "Eritrean President
Seeks Relations with South Africa." (FBIS-AFR-93-125 1 July
1993, pp. 2-3)
The Middle East [London]. May 1995. Chris Kutschera.
"Eritrea: Hostility in the Horn."
New African [London]. September 1995. Jennie Street.
"Eritrea Makes a Constitution."
Le Nouvel Afrique/Asie [Paris]. July-August 1995. No.
70-71. Hamesso Boroda. "Vers un front anti-soudanais?"
Political Handbook of the World: 1994-1995. 1995. Edited by
Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.
Professor with African Studies Centre. Michigan State
University, East Lansing. 24 January 1996. Fax received by the
DIRB.
Professor of Political Science. University of California at
Los Angeles (UCLA). 1 March 1996. Telephone interview.
Programme Coordinator - Ethiopian Association of Toronto.
29 February 1996. Telephone interview.
Researcher, Brookings Institute. Washington, DC. 1 March
1996. Telephone interview.
Review of African Political Economy. March 1995. Vol. 22,
No. 63. John Markakis. "Eritrea's National Charter."
Swiss Review of World Affairs [Zurich]. October 1995. No.
10. Oswald Iten. "Ethiopia and Eritrea: The Fruits of
Division."
The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 10 July 1995.
"Eritrean President Stresses Separation of Religion,
Politics." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Amnesty International (AI). 1995. Amnesty International
Report 1995. New York: Amnesty International USA, pp.
127-128.
Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC).
Foreign Information Department, Bonn. 24 June 1995. Highlights
to the Present Situation in Eritrea, pp. 1-4.
Freedom Review [New York]. January-February 1996a. Vol. 27,
No.1 "Table of Independent Countries: Comparative Measures of
Freedom," pp. 16-17.
_____. January-February 1996b. Vol. 27, No.1 "The Tabulated
Ratings," p. 14.
_____. January-February 1996c. Vol. 27, No.1. "Survey
Methodology," pp. 11-15.
Medhanie, Tesfatsion. December 1994. "Eritrea 1994: Review
of Human Rights Situation." (Unpublished paper, University of
Bremen), pp. 1-11.
Office of Asylum Affairs (OAA), Bureau of Democracy, Human
Rights and Labor. December 1994. Eritrea - Profile of Asylum
Claims & Country Conditions. Washington, DC: United States
Department of State, pp. 1-5.
1
Information on the various groups is drawn from the following
sources: Political Handbook of the World: 1994-1995. 1995.
Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications;
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1995. Vol. 41.
Reference Supplement. "Eritrea"; and The Eritrean Newsletter
[Bonn]. August-September 1995. No. 66.
2
Please note that a single reference has been found to another
ELF-RC, the ELF-Revolutionary Committee, that is distinct from
the ELF-Revolutionary Council discussed in this Response to
Information Request (BBC Summary 6 Feb. 1991). When asked
about the existence of the ELF-Revolutionary Committee, the
professor with the African Studies Center at Michigan State
University said that, although he has heard of it, its size
and objectives are not clear (24 Jan. 1996).
3
Eritrea's National Service Programme requires 18-40 year-old
Eritreans to do six months military training and one year
military service through development work (Indian Ocean
Newsletter 11 Nov. 1995, 2).
4
The ELF-RC provides a figure of 1200 people arrested and
detained (The Eritrean Newsletter Aug.-Sept. 1995b, 8).
5
Several sources mention the possibility of an overlap between
the Jihad Eritrea, formed in 1989 with the goal of setting up
an Islamic state in Eritrea, and the ELF, whose membership is
largely Muslim (Keesing's 1995, R13; The Middle East May 1995,
14; Swiss Review of World Affairs Oct. 1995, 17-18;
Chairperson, Texas Southern University 4 Mar. 1996; Former
Professor, Rutgers 6 Mar. 1996). The Africa Research Bulletin
reports that when it was originally founded the Jihad Eritrea
involved former ELF members (1-31 Jan. 1995, 11708). The UCLA
political science professor said that former ELF members may
have joined the Jihad Eritrea but that this group is more
likely to be a creation of the Sudanese government (1 Mar.
1996). For its part, the ELF-RC states that it could not
cooperate with the Jihad Eritrea because it "draws the line
betwen Islam as a faith and as state ideology" (The Eritrean
Newsletter Aug.-Sept. 1995a, 5).
6
The constitution, which the government claims will be based on
"secularism, nationalism and democracy" (Horn of Africa
Bulletin Sept.-Oct. 1995, 6), is expected to be ratified by
May 1996 and elections to be held in 1997 (EIU 4th Quarter
1995, 23; Africa Report May-June 1995, 53; New African Sept.
1995; Professor African Studies Center 24 Jan. 1996).
7
Between 1972 and 1974 the ELF and EPLF engaged in a civil war
while also fighting Ethiopian forces (Europa 1994 1994 1064).
There was a renewed struggle between the two anti-Ethiopian
groups in the early 1980s and the ELF was then forced into
Sudan by the EPLF, where it was disarmed by the Sudanese
government (HRW Sept. 1991, 117).
8
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, the PFDJ
reportedly has over 500,000 members (3rd Quarter 1995, 21).??
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