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| Red Sea Afar Democratic Organisation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leaders | Ibrahim Harun[1][2] Abdu Sheek (spokesperson Yasin Mohamed, Nasradin ALI)[3] |
| Dates of operation | 1999–present |
| Headquarters | Afar Region, Ethiopia |
| Active regions | Southern Red Sea Region, Eritrea |
| Ideology | Afar self-determination |
| Allies | State allies
Non-state allies |
| Opponents |  Eritrea |
| Battles and wars | Second Afar insurgency |
The Red Sea Afar Democratic Organisation (Afar: Qasa Badih Qafarih Dimokraasih Missoyna; Tigrinya: ዲሞክራሲያዊ ውድብ ዓፋር ቀይሕ ባሕሪ; Arabic: التنظيم الديمقراطي لعفر البحر الأحمر, transliteration: Al-tanzim Al-dimokrati Li-'afar Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar; abbreviated RSADO) is a political organisation and armed insurgent group based in Ethiopia. The organisation is made up of mainly ethnic Afar people, and was founded in early 1999 following a revolt by the Red Sea Afar people led by Ahmed Humed, after the UN-supervised Eritrean independence referendum was held in 1993. The primary goal of RSADO is to achieve autonomy for the region known as Dankalia, inhabited mainly by the Red Sea Afar.
After several years of dormancy, in July 2025 the RSADO renewed its armed struggle against the Eritrean government.[6]
History
Following the independence of Eritrea in May 1991, indigenous Afar started to face unprecedented persecution by the totalitarian[7] one-party government of the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice led by Isaias Afwerki.
This combined with dissatisfaction over the ruling PFDJ government led to a rebellion by the Red Sea Afar in southern Eritrea in 1999. The group used guerrilla war tactics and launched attacks in Eritrea. Though they posed great problems for the Eritrean government and army, it was also faced internal political conflicts.[1]
After several years of dormancy, in July 2025 the RSADO renewed its armed struggle, holding a public conference in Semera in which it reaffirmed its commitment to armed conflict against the Eritrean government and accused Eritrea of oppression against the coastal Afar people.[8] In October, after 3 months of training, the RSADO announced the graduation of a new unit of soldiers, with the commander Ibrahim Harun praising the unit. At the end of the announcement, the RSADO expressed “sincere gratitude” towards the Afar Region government and the Ethiopian people for their supposed support for the organisation.[9]
References
- 1 2 "Eritrean rebels claim to have killed dozens of intelligence agents". Sudan Tribune. 29 April 2014. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ↑ "Red Sea Afar rebels attack Eritrean military camp". Sudan Tribune. 26 January 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- 1 2 Tekle, Tesfa-Alem (7 September 2013). "Exiled Eritrean rebel groups plan joint military attack against regime - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan". www.sudantribune.com. Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ↑ "Ethiopia-based, anti-Eritrea regime Afar group announces graduation of new fighters". Addis Standard. 23 October 2025.
- ↑ "The Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Eritrean Kunama (DMLEK) supports the military operation of RSADO". erit-alliance.com. Eritrean Democratic Alliance. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ↑ "Ethiopia-based, anti-Eritrea regime Afar group announces graduation of new fighters". Addis Standard. 23 October 2025.
- ↑ Adam Taylor (1 December 2021) [2015-06-13]. "The brutal dictatorship the world keeps ignoring". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.[please check these dates]
- ↑ "Ethiopia-based, anti-Eritrea regime Afar group holds conference in Semera, renews struggle". Addis Standard. 15 July 2025.
- ↑ "Ethiopia-based, anti-Eritrea regime Afar group announces graduation of new fighters". Addis Standard. 23 October 2025.