Battle of Afabet

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Battle of Afabet
Part of Eritrean War of Independence
Date 1988-03-17 - 1988-03-20 Location Afabet, Eritrea Result Liberation of Afabet
Combatants
EPLF	Ethiopia USSR
Strength
unknown	20,000-22,000
Casualties
unknown	15,000-18,000+

The Battle at Afabet was a watershed battle in the Eritrean War of Independence. The Battle occurred from 1988-03-17 through 1988-03-20, in and around the town of Afabet.

[edit] The Battle

The Nadew Command was an Ethiopian Army Corps comprised of three combat infantry divisions and accompanying support units. The force numbered between 20,000^[1]-22,000^[2] soldiers. By mid-March 1988 the Nadew Command was preparing to launch an offensive campaign against the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), however, they were pre-empted by the EPLF.

On the morning of 1988-03-17 the EPLF deployed troops on three fronts around the Hedai Valley to encircle the Ethiopian garrison. Upon attack by the EPLF the Ethiopian forces began to withdraw but were cut off. The Battle continued while the Ethiopian garrison from Keren tried to reinforce their position. This attempt to reinforce was thwarted by the EPLF.^[3] By the end of the three day battle the Eritreans had killed or captured over 18,000^[2] Ethiopian soldiers.

Once the Ethiopian troops were routed in the Hedai Valley, Afabet was stormed and the population liberated. As the town was a major garrison the EPLF also captured a large cache of weapons in addition to those captured in the Valley. The victory of the EPLF over the Nadew Command is said to be the most significant victory for any liberation movement since the Vietnamese victory at Dien Bien Phu by the historian Basil Davidson.^[4] Also of great importance as a consequence of the Battle was the capture of three Soviet military advisers (a fourth was killed in combat action).

[edit] References

1. ^ Deceit is its own damnation (part I) (1999-11-19). Retrieved on 2006-10-31.
2. ^ ^{a b} Killion, Tom (1998). Historical Dictionary of Eritrea. The Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-3437-8. 
3. ^ Ethiopia and Eritrea, 1950-1991. Retrieved on 2006-10-31.
4. ^ Cliffe, Lionel; Davidson, Basil (1988). The Long Struggle of Eritrea for Independence and Constructive Peace. Red Sea Press. ISBN 978-0-932415-37-0.