The Eritrean Liberation Front: key moments
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1960
The ELF is founded in Cairo
Eritrean exiles and students in Cairo found the Eritrean Liberation Front to win Eritrea’s independence.
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1 September 1961
The armed struggle begins
Hamid Idris Awate and his fighters fire the first shots at Mount Adal, the day Eritreans mark as the start of the armed struggle.
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1962
Eritrea is annexed
The federation with Ethiopia is ended and Eritrea annexed. The ELF’s struggle grows into a movement across the country.
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1970s
A movement of the whole country
The ELF grows in the towns and the countryside alike. Divisions within the movement lead to the founding of the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF).
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1981
Into exile
After fighting between the fronts, the ELF’s forces leave Eritrea for Sudan. Many of its fighters go on to build their lives in exile.
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1991–1993
Liberation and independence
Ethiopian forces are driven from Eritrea in May 1991, and in April 1993 Eritreans vote for independence in a referendum.
This is the history in brief. The association is gathering veterans’ own accounts of the years they served. If you have a story, photographs or documents to share, please get in touch.