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The Month of March: From Togoruba to Afabet – Pivotal Battles in Eritrean History. March holds a significant place in Eritrean history, marked by two defining battles that shaped the nation’s struggle for independence: the Battle of Togoruba in 1964 and the Battle of Afabet in 1988, the Demise of Nadew. These engagements, led by the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) and the Eritrean People’s Liberation Army (EPLA) respectively, showcased the resilience and strategic brilliance of Eritrean fighters against the Ethiopian military. -The Battle of Togoruba: A Defining Moment (March 15, 1964) On March 15, 1964, the Battle of Togoruba marked a historic confrontation between the ELF and the Ethiopian Imperial Army. Led by Mohammed Idris, also known as Abu Rijeila, this was the first major clash between ELF fighters and a regular Ethiopian military force. The battle proved to be a turning point, demonstrating the determination of the Eritrean resistance. In this engagement, the gallant ELF fighters launched a bold attack on a well-armed Ethiopian infantry unit, marking the first instance of such a confrontation in Eritrea’s history. The fighters killed 84 Ethiopian soldiers and officers, a significant achievement given their limited resources. However, the Ethiopian forces, bolstered by advanced logistics and reinforcements, eventually overwhelmed the ELF after deploying additional troops. The fighters retreated with four wounded comrades to safety, but the cost was high: 19 freedom fighters were martyred. The Ethiopian infantry secured the battle area and collected the bodies of the fallen martyrs. In a cruel act of intimidation, the Ethiopian occupiers hanged the corpses of six martyrs in Akordat, six in Keren, three in Barentu, and two in Haikota, aiming to demoralize and terrorize the Eritrean population. Togoruba is thus a day of remembrance and martyrdom, honoring the sacrifices made by these brave individuals. -The Battle of Afabet: A Decisive Victory (March 17-19, 1988) "እዚ ስትራተጂያዊ መጥቃዕቲ’ዚ ንመጀመርታ ግዜ ገዛእቲ ኢትዮጵያ፡ ህላወኦም ኣብ ኤርትራ ክቕጽል ድዩ ኣይቅጽልን ምጥርጣር ዝፈጠረሎም እዩ ነይሩ." ናይ ሽዑ ዋና ጸሓፊ ህዝባዊ ግንባር ተጋዳላይ ኢሳይያስ ኣፈወርቂ "This strategic Operation, for the first time, caused the Ethiopian authorities to doubt whether their presence in Eritrea would continue or not." Isaias Afwerki, then Sec. Gen. of EPLF. "The EPLF’s victory was “one of the biggest ever scored by any liberation movement anywhere since Dien BIen Phu.” The late Basil Davidson #British historian. "The Battle of Afabet is the largest Africa since the Second World War." The late Canadian Journalist Peter Worthington On March 17, 1988, the EPLA launched its most comprehensive military offensive to dismantle the Nadew Command, a formidable Ethiopian force of 22,000 troops that had been a stronghold since 1979. Centered in Afabet, this command represented one of Ethiopia’s most experienced and war-hardened armies. The stage was set for a historic confrontation. On the eve of the battle, martyr Major General Gebrezgiabhier, known as Wuchu, delivered an inspiring speech to the EPLF fighters. With unwavering resolve, he declared, “The reason we came here today is to take part in Nadew Command's burial ceremony…” This galvanized the troops for the challenge ahead. The operation began at 0430 hours with a probing attack on the 14th Division to gauge Ethiopian readiness. At 0500, the EPLA unleashed a massive, well-coordinated offensive on three flanks, instantly destroying the command post of the front lines. The element of surprise was key as EPLF fighters smashed through the first line of trenches, which stretched over 60 kilometers, forcing the Ethiopian and Derg army to retreat toward their second and third lines of defense. As the retreating 29th Mechanized Division reached Adi Sherum, EPLF mechanized units struck with precision, using 100 mm guns to disable the lead vehicles. This blocked the route for a convoy of approximately six dozen tanks, armored personnel carriers (APCs), and lorries loaded with missiles, BM-21 rockets, mortars, and artillery, effectively crippling the enemy’s mobility. By 0730 on March 19, within just 48 hours, Afabet fell to the EPLA. The Ethiopian Derg lost 18,000 troops, including seasoned fighters, marking a catastrophic defeat. Among the captured were Lieutenant Colonel Afewerki Wassae and three Soviet officers. Ethiopian Colonels Teshome Wolde Senbet and Admassu Makonnen, along with a Soviet officer, were killed in the operation. The EPLF seized significant weapons, including 50 tanks, 100 trucks, a large number of light and heavy weapons, 130 mm mortars, and BM-21 rocket launchers. In the chaos, 15 Soviet military advisors attempted to flee to Keren. Twelve were later rescued by Soviet special forces under Colonel Yevgeny Sokurov, while three—Colonels Yury Petrovich Kalistrov and Yevigniew Nicholayevich, and Lieutenant Alexander Victrovich Covaldin—were taken as prisoners of war (PoW). Regional Impact of the Demolition of Nadew The stunning defeat of the Ethiopian Army at Afabet, often dubbed the “Dien Bien Phu of Africa,” had far-reaching consequences. The collapse of the Nadew Command forced Ethiopia to seek a peace accord with Somalia, signed on April 3, 1988. The agreement stipulated that both nations would refrain from using force against each other’s territorial integrity and political independence, respecting sovereignty within their colonial borders. Implementation began immediately, with Ethiopia withdrawing troops from the Somali border by August to redeploy them to Eritrea. The Battle of Afabet stands as a testament to the EPLF’s military prowess and strategic foresight, paving the way for Eritrea’s eventual independence.