Third Eritrean Civil War

Background (Ethiopian-Eritrean border war)
Eritrea included the benefit of being the market for Ethiopian agricultural products after splitting from Ethiopia in 1993. However, Eritrea began to experiment in industrialization and believed at a certain point of time that Ethiopian goods would not be "beneficial" to its people, a certain "Asian tiger" approach to its economic way of doing business. However, Ethiopia was more advanced in industry than Eritrea and with Tigray not expected as a source of labour but rather an industrializing region with heavy investments compared to the ones existing in Eritrea, the Master Economic Agenda was not practical.
After the conflict with Ethiopia that lasted from 1998-2000 resulting in a total of 70,000 casualties there is a sense of persisting tension with Ethiopia, and possible resumption of the war with Ethiopia that has resulted in the ruling government of Eritrea in taking liberty with human and citizens' rights, as well as shutting down the free press .
Eritrea's economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population involved in farming and herding. Therefore a strategic plan for rural development is the solution to speed up the developing to establishing a strong agriculture base; capable of providing abundant raw materials to industrial units; and exporting agricultural products to states around the Arabic Gulf .
Opposition Mounts to Eritrean Government
In Addis Ababa on January 14, 2008 opposition members met to establish a "interim administrative council and the fashioning of a plan to facilitate the utmost participation of the Eritrean media and the civic society". In the U.S, the Bush administration signaled "a clear signal of solidarity with the Eritrean democratic leaders by hosting a meeting at the State Department for one of the leading members of the EDA coalition".
"Dr. Jandayi Frazer, US Assistant Secretary in Charge of African Affairs on Monday held a lengthy meeting with Mr. Mesfin Hagos, EDA senior member and former Eritrean Defense Minister. Items discussed included the deteriorating economic and social crisis sweeping over that African country. Also discussed were the government´s relentless disregard for the rule of law and its gross violations of human rights and civil liberties".
This was seen as a huge slap at the reclusive highly unpredictable government of Isaias Afewerki that has been aggressive to its neighbors of Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen in several disputes as well as continuing with a failed agricultural policy that have left nearly 2.5 million Eritreans in need of food aid.
Outbreak of Violence
On May 8, 2008 thirteen opposition groups came together and stated that they as the Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA) they would join together and engage the Eritrean government of Isaias Afewerki.
The Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Eritrean Kunama, reported that the Eritrean government had killed 6 members of their ethnic group and had taken away another 163 for collaborating with Ethiopia.
One member of the opposition the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization attacked two military camps on June 1, 2008, killing 8 Eritrean soldiers and injuring 6 soldiers while losing 1 fighter and then again on June 2, 2008 attacked a military platoon killing 4 more soldiers and injuring 10 others. While on June 1, 2008, a second opposition group, the Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Eritrean Kunama, reportedly attacked a police station near Barantu town killing two police officers and injuring three others.
On November 17, 2008, rebels from the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization reported that they had killed 285 Eritrean soldiers in one devastating attack. However, it is believed that only 50 Eritrean soldiers were killed and several dozen wounded.

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