This dyad belongs to the conflict Eritrea: Government

Summary of conflict Eritrea: Government

A low level conflict has been fought in Eritrea since independence. The EIJM – AS (Harakat al Jihad al Islami - Abu Suhail faction, Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement – Abu Suhail faction) has been fighting the government with an aim to oust the regime and install a new government based on the principles of Islamic law. EIJM - AS is based in Sudan and has carried out their struggle in the border region. The group has been very fractious and reports from region are rare.

Conflict summary

When Eritrea declared independence in May 1993, the precursor of EIJM had already been in existence for over a decade. In 1981 the Munezemet Arrewad al Muslimin al Eritrea (Eritrean Pioneer Muslim Organization) was founded by Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) dissidents, that were expelled from the ELF in 1975, accused of being too religious. In 1983 the Jebhat Tahrir al Eritrea al Islamiya Wataniya (Eritrean National Islamic Liberation Front) was established in Sudan. The EIJM was formed when the two organizations merged in 1988 with three smaller groups - Lejnet al Difae al Islami (Islamic Defense Committee), Harekat al Mustedafeen al Eritrea (Movement of Oppressed Eritreans), and al Intifada Islamiya (Islamic Uprising).

The EIJM has been very fractious in 1993 a militant faction led by Mohammed Ahmed (Abu Suhail) broke away, since then EIJM - AS has been the most military active rebel group in Eritrea.

The EIJM - AS (Harakat al Jihad al Islami - Abu Suhail faction, Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement - Abu Suhail faction) has been based in Sudan and most operations have been concentrated in the border area. In spring 1997 the conflict reached the threshold for inclusion for the first time when clashes between EIJM - AS and the government of Eritrea were reported. The conflict has then continued on a low level, no efforts on negotiations or third party actions have been taken.