Horn of Africa Policy Center | News & Updates

Published: April 20, 2026

Strategic Shift: Eritrean Afar National Congress Establishes Military Wing, Deepening Coordination in the Afar Arena

Horn of Africa Policy Center – Exclusive: Marking a significant escalation in the Eritrean political landscape, the Eritrean Afar National Congress (EANC) has officially announced the establishment of a military wing comprising an all-Afar paramilitary force. The movement has formally embraced armed struggle as the definitive means to dismantle the current Eritrean regime led by President Isaias Afwerki.

Graduation of Vanguard Forces and Anticipated Expansion Translating this announcement into immediate action on the ground, the EANC celebrated the graduation of approximately 300 Afar recruits in the Afar Region (Central Zone). This initial cohort forms the robust nucleus of the newly established military wing. As part of a broader strategic recruitment and deployment plan, the total number of combat-ready graduates is expected to reach five times this initial figure by the end of the current year.

Evolving Alliances in the Afar Arena The EANC’s new military wing represents the emergence of the second armed force within the Eritrean Afar arena. It joins the ranks of the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organisation (RSADO), whose armed wing has been actively operating in the region for three decades.

This major field development is the culmination of growing political and strategic alignment between the two Afar factions. Earlier this year, the EANC and RSADO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and issued a joint statement in Addis Ababa, on the sidelines of the inaugural “Horn Vision” conference, signaling a unified front.

Motivations for Armed Struggle The EANC, a leading indigenous movement advocating for internal self-determination and autonomy in the coastal homeland of Dankalia, cited decades of severe systemic abuses as the catalyst for this strategic shift. The organization pointed to the ruling People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ)’s ongoing policies of marginalization, ethnic cleansing, illegal land confiscations, and forced displacement.

After 35 years of dictatorial rule, the EANC emphasized that a strong consensus has formed among Eritreans and numerous opposition groups that military force is now the only viable path to end the regime and halt these internationally condemned human rights violations.

A Call to Unite the Eritrean Opposition Coinciding with the unveiling of its new forces and its strengthened ties with RSADO, the EANC issued a national appeal to all Eritrean political and armed opposition factions. The Congress urged these forces to unite their ranks and join the Afar struggle, emphasizing that coordinated military and political efforts are essential to accelerate the downfall of the Afwerki regime and achieve lasting change in Eritrea.