Center–periphery relations in Ethiopia during the Dergue (1974–1991): the case of Afar

The concept of center–periphery relations extends from the relations of the central government and peoples of not so highly organized peripheries within a state to the relations between developed and developing nations. These relations are dynamic and flexible and can be influenced by national, regional, and international developments such as political changes. The center–periphery relations in Ethiopia are periodically categorized as pre-1974, militaristic period (1974–1991), and post-1991. In this paper, I try to show the change and continuity of the center–periphery relationship of Afar people in Ethiopia from 1974 to 1991. Using the available sources, I try to demonstrate the nature of center–periphery relationship between the military government and the Afar people as center and periphery, respectively. In addition, I try to show the determining factors that affect the center–periphery relations in the period under study. The Afar Triangle, which is composed of north eastern Ethiopia, south eastern Eritrea, and Djibouti, is the natural border between Africa and the Arab world and the main trade line of Ethiopia to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Afar people of Ethiopia and Eritrea were under the rule of the Dergue government. The ideological change and reforms following the 1974 revolution, insurgencies movement in the region, and foreign relations and external trade determined the relations between the central government and the Afar people. Although there was an attempt to handle the people of Afar through sharing power and resources, the center continued to dominate power and resources in the region.