Language, Culture and Citizenship Among Amharic-Speaking Eritreans and Changing Conditions for Eritreans in Ethiopia

Published: 1/May/2023
Source: Refugee Law Clinic, University of London

By Jennifer Riggan.

RLC Briefing Paper 3

Abstract

This briefing paper explains why many Eritreans speak Amharic and why it is plausible that, under certain circumstances, an Eritreans might not speak Tigrinya or another Eritrean language. In order to explore these circumstances, the paper provides an explanation of the intertwined social and linguistic histories of Eritrea and Ethiopia prior to the 1998 border war, discusses language and educational policy in Eritrea both before and after independence, explains the history of Amiches (Eritreans born in Ethiopia) and movements of this population between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and explores the circumstances of the town of Assab. The paper concludes with comments on conditions for Eritreans in Ethiopia from the mid-2000s until the present with a particular focus on the extremely dangerous conditions created by the recent war in Northern Ethiopia. The paper draws on an extensive review of the literature and the author’s previously published work.

Download: https://sas-space.sas.ac.uk/9749/1/RLC%20BP%20No%203.pdf.

Themes: Discrimination, Ethnic/Racial/Religious, Dual Nationality, Statelessness
Regions: Eritrea, Ethiopia
Year: 2023