General information
Part of Conflict: Ethiopia: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1981-12-31
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: EPDM was formed in November 1980 by a break-away faction from EPRP. While it is clear that the movement had made a clear break with EPRP already in late 1980, no statement regarding its aims and goals can be found until in 1983. This is probably due to the chaotic situation in the country during these years, and the multitude of rebel groups springing up, making news coverage of the situation difficult.
Sometime in 1983 EPDM described itself as “a democratic organisation which is struggling for the democratic rights of the peoples of Ethiopia and for their complete freedom”. Furthermore, EPDM’s leader Tamrat Layne has acknowledged that the policies and programs of EPDM largely mirrored those of TPLF, including its approach to national self-determination.
Date of first use of armed force: 1982-12-31
Comment on date of first use of armed force: EPDM initiated armed operations in Wollo in 1982, at times fighting together with TPLF.
First Battle Related Death: 1982-01-01
Comment on First Battle Related Death: EPDM initiated armed operations in Wollo in 1982, at times fighting together with TPLF. These operations are oftentimes described as "major", wherefore it is assumed that they probably involved some fatalities.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1983-12-31
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: In 1983 EPDM escalated its operations and the 25 battle-related deaths threshold was crossed for the first time.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1981
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Ethiopia): n/a
Side B (EPDM): n/a
1982
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1 |
| Best | 1 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Ethiopia): n/a
Side B (EPDM): n/a
1983
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Ethiopia): n/a
Side B (EPDM): n/a
1984
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Ethiopia): n/a
Side B (EPDM): n/a
1985
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Ethiopia): n/a
Side B (EPDM): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1981 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
1982 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1983 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: While EPDM had conducted small-scale military operations in a few towns in the north of Wollo prior to 1983, it was not until this year that fighting between the group and the Ethiopian government crossed the 25 battle-related threshold.
During the year EPDM began cooperating with the larges Tigrayan rebel group TPLF and the two movements launched joint attacks in both Wollo and Gonder. Following a string of successes, where EPDM and TPLF forces captured 15 centres in the Wollo province, the government was forced to draft 15 000 troops from the Awash and Ogaden areas to contain the new threat.
Apart from the 15 centres that the joint forces overran, the biggest military achievement in 1983 was the capture of Mille, a strategically important town in Wollo. Fighting a guerrilla war, the forces withdrew from the town after four days, but it took a further ten days before the Derg forces could unblock the road and restore communications. In response to the growing threat in Wollo and Gonder the government forces began to apply the same counter-insurgency strategy in the provinces that it utilised in Tigray, fighting TPLF. This strategy – also called the Derg’s "counter-population warfare" due to its brutality – included heavy bombing and strafing and hit the civilian population hard.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: There were no negotiations between the parties in 1983.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1984 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: In 1984 EPDM continued to cooperate with TPLF and launch military operations against Derg forces in both Wollo and Gonder. One of its biggest successes of the year was the attack on the garrison towns of Robit and Gobye. When army reinforcements were rushed to the area EPDM and TPLD ambushed them and they reportedly suffered the loss of hundreds of soldiers.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: There were no negotiations between the parties in 1984.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1985 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: In 1985 EPDM continued to launch military operations against Derg forces in Gonder and Wollo, oftentimes assisted by TPLF.
Apart from its military activities EPDM was mainly focusing on building a network of peasant associations and civilian administrative councils in areas that it had “liberated”. It was reported that the movement had launched a land reform program and was building up schools and clinics.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: There were no negotiations between the parties in 1985.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 1985-12-31
Comment on Termination: It is very likely that fighting between government troops and EPDM crossed the 25 battle-related deaths threshold also the following three years (1986-1988). However, a lack of in-depth reporting makes it impossible to substantiate this, wherefore the government of Ethiopia – EPDM dyad is included in the list of unclear cases for these years. Note that in 1989 EPDM joined TPLF and formed the umbrella group EPRDF.
