I believe a solution of the current crisis requires a comprehensive examination of Eritrea's legal status prior to 1993, and the status of its borders.
The last time Eritrea existed as a distinct entity was during the Ethiopia-Eritrea federation from 1952 to 1962.
The Eritrean parliament voted in 1962 to dissolve the Ethiopia-Eritrea federation and fully unite with Ethiopia. This move, although influenced by Ethiopian involvement in local Eritrean politics, was far less coercive than the military actions of Italy against Ethiopia when it created Eritrea.
It is strange to see Eritreans today base their identity on the military activities of people such as Baratieri, Graziani, and Mussolini. Italian colonial conquests are now regarded as sacred by the Eritreans, while the Eritrean parliament's own action in 1962 is supposedly illegal. This despite the fact that the Unionist party (Hager Fiqir Mahiber) was the largest and most popular party in Eritrea at the time. (see note)
Unfortunately for the EPLF, Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia rendered all treaties negotiated between Italy and Ethiopia as null and void. In international legal terms, Eritrea is an internal province of Ethiopia that has seceded. Its boundaries are ALL undemarcated and subject to bilateral discussion with Ethiopia
The most recent delineation of Eritrean borders was done in 1987. This is the last time an uncontested legal delineation of Eritrea was done. (All international institutions and countries recognized Eritrea as an internal Ethiopian province at that time).
According to the maps drawn up at that time, the Afar coastline up to Adulis is excluded from Eritrea. In addition, the Kunama inhabited Gash-Setit region was given autonomous status.
Now that Eritrea has decided to create a crisis, a fundamental and permanent solution is required to the question of Eritrea's borders. I believe that the inhabitants of the Afar coast area and the Gash-Setit region should each vote in a UN sponsored referendum to decide their future. EPLF loyalists resettled in these regions will not be allowed to vote.
This is a fair, democratic, and reasonable process.
The most likely outcome of this process is a final border that follows the Mareb river from Sudan inland to its headwaters, and then a short overland delineation eastward to Adulis on the Gulf of Zula.
Unfortunately, some Kunama people who live on the north side of the Mareb will still end up stranded in Eritrea. However, this is a reasonable compromise in order to create a clear and undisputed boundary between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
I hope the Ethiopian government adopts this sensible policy. Its position towards Eritrea has been far too accomodating in the past. We need a permanent solution.
- Dagmawi
Note : I am surprised that many Eritreans continue to try to hide the fact that the Unionist party was the pre-eminent party in 1950s Eritrea, particularly amongst Eritrean-Tigreans. National identity is a dynamic concept. Eritrean-Tigrean identity has now evolved in a separate direction (thanks largely to the brutality of Mengistu). However, this identity does not have a long history - it is futile to try to invent history when the documented facts are easily available.