Eritrea Independence — UN Federation, Ethiopian Annexation, Referendum 1993

Summary

Eritrea was federated with Ethiopia under UNGA Res. 390 (V) 1950. Ethiopia's unilateral annexation of Eritrea in 1962 was never recognised. Following 30 years of armed struggle, the EPLF achieved de facto independence in 1991; a UN-monitored referendum in April 1993 produced 99.8% support for independence, leading to immediate international recognition and UN membership.

Relevance to the diaspora

The Eritrean precedent, like East Timor, demonstrates that the international community has recognised the right to external self-determination where a people's incorporation into a state was externally imposed and denied genuine consent; Tamil advocates examine its applicability given the colonial and post-colonial context of Ceylon's independence.

Key provisions

• UNGA Res. 390 (V) 1950 — Eritrea federated with Ethiopia
• Ethiopian annexation 1962 — internationally unrecognised
• UNSC Res. 828 (1993) — recommended UN membership for Eritrea
• UNGA Res. 47/230 (1993) — admitted Eritrea to UN membership

Primary source

Related entries

• → East Timor Self-Determination — UNGA Resolutions, UNSC, Referendum 1999 (UN)
• → South Sudan Independence — Comprehensive Peace Agreement 2005, Referendum 2011 (UN)
• → ICCPR Article 1 — Right of Self-Determination (UN)