A comparative study of border disputes, ethnic identity, and conflict dynamics in the Ethiopia-Eritrea War (1998–2000) and the Ethiopia-Somalia Ogaden conflict (1977–1988)

In this article, we explore how border disputes, ethnic identity and conflict dynamics interact by comparing two major conflicts in the Horn of Africa: The Ethiopia-Eritrea War (1998–2000) and Ethiopia–Somalia Ogaden Conflict (1977–1988). With qualitative analysis, the author bases on primary data of interviews with diplomats, academics and regional representatives, and secondary sources such as historical records and academic materials. Sandole's three-pillar conflict model is used to rigorously analyze the actors, issues, processes of escalation and resolution options in both cases. The results suggest that ethnicized politics, combined with colonial boundaries that continued to shape identities until the present date, were main factors behind the escalation in both conflicts. And where the Eritrea Ethiopia conflict, as I indicated in Chapter 2, was essentially a question of post-colonial sovereignty and competing national narratives, the Ogaden war, for its part, simultaneously expressed irredentist claims of ethnic Somalia self-determination. In either scenario, the role of local and international actors were instrumental towards shaping conflicts. The comparative experience highlights the need to address historical grievances, promote inclusive governance and build capacity of regional mediation organs. Lessons learnt from them provide useful tools for resolving border disputes in Africa, where multiple identities and the challenge of disputed territories have proven to be a recurrent source of instability across countries.