Eritrean Independence

Following Italian defeat by Allied forced in 1941, Eritrea became a protectorate of Britain which meant that it was a state controlled and protected by another state. After 11 years, the United Nations voted for the federation of Eritrea with Ethiopia were Eritrea would become a constituent state of the Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea. The federation was supposed to last a decade (10 years) where it would be under the Ethiopian crown but have some autonomy and make mini sovereign decisions. However, the autonomy declined which resulted in Eritreans starting an independence movement. Ethiopia wasn't having any of it and annexed Eritrea in 1962, a year after the independence movement began. This resulted in a war that lasted or 29 years from 1 September 1961 until 24 May 1991 when the Eritrean People's Liberation Front defeated Ethiopia which became a republic during the conflict. A referendum was held with unanimous independence vote. Eritrea’s Independence Day is 24 May.