Ethiopian Civil War

Part of

the Eritrean War of Independence, the Ethiopian–Somali conflict, the Oromo conflict and the Cold War

Date

12 September 1974 – 4 June 1991 (16 years, 8 months, 3 weeks and 2 days)

Location

Result

EPLF/

TPLF victory

Fall of the Ethiopian Empireball and subsequent implementation of military rule
Creation, then collapse, of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopiaball by the Dergball
Installation of the TPLF-led transitional government which would later become the EPRDF government in Ethiopiaball
Installation of the EPLF-established PFDJ government in Eritreaball after independence from Ethiopiaball

Territorial changes

Independence of

Eritreaball;

Ethiopiaball becomes a landlocked country

Belligerents

EPRDF

EPRP
MEISON (from 1977)
EDU
OLF
WSLF
ALF
ONLF
Eritrean separatists:

ELF (until 1981)
EPLF

Supported by:
Lib yaball
Somaliaball
Syriaball
Iraqball
Saudi Arabiaball

Derg (1974-1987)
PDR Ethiopiaball
Supported by:
Soviet Unionball (1974-1990)
Cubaball (1974-1990)
South Yemenball (1974-1990)
North Koreaball
Israelcube (from 1990)

Commanders
Meles Zenawi Tsadkan Gebretensae Isaias Afwerki Elemo Qiltu (until 1974) †	Mengistu Haile Mariam (1974, 1977-1991) Tesfaye Gebre Kidan (from 1991) Fisseha Desta

Strength
TPLF: 141,000 (1991) EPLF: 110,000 (1990) OLF: 13,000 (1991)	PDR Ethiopiaball: 230,000 (1991)

Casualties
≈400,000–579,000 killed ~1,200,000 deaths from famine

The Ethiopian Civil War was a 16 year-long civil conflict in the country of Ethiopia. Communist rebel groups, supported by the Soviet Union, sought to overthrow the government and create a socialist government, while other rebels, supported by the US, sought to create a democracy. The war ended with the independence of Eritrea, and the creation of the PDR Ethiopiaball, which would go on to last only a few months after it's victory.

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