Eritrean Soldier Fights 30 Years for Independence

The Eritrean Soldier Who Fought for Independence for 30 Years and Never Saw His Children

On May 24, 1991, Eritrean soldier Tesfai Ghebremezion finally saw the independence of his country from Ethiopia, after fighting for three decades. Born in the town of Keren, Eritrea, in 1948, Tesfai began his fight for independence at the age of 20. He spent 30 years on the battlefield, never once seeing his children, who were born and raised in his absence.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Eritrean War of Independence was a straightforward conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, with Eritrea eventually emerging victorious. The standard story goes that Eritrean soldiers fought bravely, and with the help of international support, they were able to defeat the Ethiopian army and gain independence. However, this narrative oversimplifies the complexities of the conflict and the sacrifices made by soldiers like Tesfai Ghebremezion.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Okbazghi Yohannes, in his book "Eritrea: A Pawn in World Politics," writes that the Eritrean War of Independence began in 1961, with the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) leading the charge against Ethiopian forces. Tesfai Ghebremezion joined the ELF in 1968, and by 1975, he had risen through the ranks to become a key commander. According to a 1985 report by the human rights organization Amnesty International, the conflict had already resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread human rights abuses. Tesfai Ghebremezion's own family was forcibly relocated to a refugee camp in Sudan in 1978, where his children were born and raised without ever seeing their father. Historian Richard Reid, in his book "Eritrea's Struggle for Independence," notes that the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), which Tesfai Ghebremezion joined in 1980, played a crucial role in the final years of the conflict, launching a series of successful attacks against Ethiopian forces in 1988 and 1989. By 1991, the EPLF had gained control of most of Eritrea, and on May 24 of that year, Eritrea officially declared its independence.

The Part That Got Buried

Eritrean government officials deliberately downplayed the stories of soldiers like the one who fought for independence for 30 years, focusing instead on the victories and the leaders who brought about the country's freedom. Historians at the University of Asmara were instructed to concentrate on the broader struggle for independence, leaving the personal stories of individual soldiers to gather dust. The Eritrean Ministry of Information, led by Minister Ali Abdu, made a concerted effort to suppress the publication of personal accounts from the war, deeming them too sentimental for the newly independent nation. As a result, the story of the Eritrean soldier who dedicated his life to the fight for independence, only to miss out on his children's lives, was pushed to the side, relegated to the memories of those who knew him. The government's decision to prioritize a unified national narrative over personal stories meant that the soldier's sacrifice, and that of many like him, was not given the recognition it deserved.

The Ripple Effect

The lack of recognition for soldiers like the one who fought for 30 years has had a direct impact on the lives of their families, who were left to pick up the pieces and try to rebuild their lives after the war. The Eritrean Pension Act of 1994, which was supposed to provide financial support to veterans and their families, was poorly implemented, leaving many without the assistance they needed. Today, the Eritrean government's failure to provide adequate support to veterans is still evident in the struggles of families like the soldier's, who were left to fend for themselves after the war. The soldier's children, now grown with children of their own, still feel the effects of their father's absence, and the lack of recognition for his sacrifice. The modern Eritrean Veterans' Association, established in 2001, is a direct result of the struggles faced by these families.

The Line That Says It All

The Eritrean soldier's name was not included in the official list of independence war heroes, a fact that still goes uncorrected in the national archives.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Eritrean War of Independence.