Eritrea

After 28 years of fighting, 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 when they met at The Carter Center for 12 days in September 1989. 

Leaders from both sides had asked President Carter, during trips to the region in 1988 and 1989, to mediate. The negotiations at the Center marked the first time the parties agreed to talk without preconditions and in the presence of a third-party mediator. 

Two months later, the groups met again in Nairobi, Kenya. While they made progress, the parties continued to fight. In May 1991, Tigrayan insurgents forced Ethiopia’s president to flee the country, which led to Ethiopia’s defeat in the Eritrean conflict. In May 1993, Eritrea became an independent nation. 

By engaging in resolving a long-standing conflict and opening channels for critical dialogue between former enemies, President Carter helped change the course of history for Eritrea.

Working hand in hand with Eritrea’s Ministry of Agriculture, The Carter Center, in partnership with the Sasakawa Africa Association, assisted farmers with agricultural production starting in 1996. The program was part of a larger partnership led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug that helped over 8 million small-scale sub-Saharan African farmers in countries where malnutrition is a constant threat.    

Our Work and Methods   

Consistent food shortages forced Eritrea to import several hundred thousand tons of grain each year. The goal was to help Eritrea grow more of its own food to prevent famine and starvation. The program provided farmers with credit for fertilizers and enhanced seeds to grow test plots, often yielding 200% to 400% more crops. Participating farmers went on to teach others, creating a ripple effect to stimulate self-sufficiency. 

The program ended in Eritrea in 1999.