Eritrea

In the late 1980s, President Carter mediated between warring Ethiopian and Eritrean factions during a conflict that resulted in the independent nation of Eritrea.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was a vital third-party negotiator between Eritrean independence groups and Ethiopia. Through these dialogues, the movement for peace was initiated, and a new nation was born. The Carter Center, a trusted ally, was invited to become involved with food security programming in 1996. For several years following its independence, Eritreans suffered food shortages. Together, The Carter Center and Eritrea have built hope for a future with abundant harvests.

Waging Peace

In September 1989, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front and the government of the People's Republic of Ethiopia took the first steps toward full-scale peace negotiations after 28 years of fighting when they met for 12 days at The Carter Center. Leaders from both sides asked former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, during trips to the region in 1988 and 1989, to mediate.

Read full text on the Carter Center's peace work in Eritrea >

Fighting Disease

Agriculture accounted for 50 percent of Eritrea's gross domestic product when The Carter Center, in partnership with the Eritrean Ministry of Agriculture and the Sasakawa Africa Association, began food security programming in 1996.

Read full text on the Carter Center's health work in Eritrea >