Eritrean Islamic Jihad - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Eritrean Islamic Jihad is referred to as the Eritrean Islamic Salvation Movement, EIJM, EIJ, ERIJ, EISM, Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement, and/or Harakat al Jihad al Islami al Eritrea. The Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement (ERIJ), is one of several opposition groups that operates in Eritrea

Eritrea

Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...

and from surrounding countries.

Goals and objectives

The primary goal of the ERIJ is the overthrow of the Eritrean government of President Isaias Afewerki

Isaias Afewerki

Isaias Afewerki is the first and current President of Eritrea, attaining that status when he led the Eritrean People's Liberation Front to victory in May 1991, thus ending the 30-year old armed liberation struggle that the Eritrean people refer to as "Gedli".-Early life and rise to power:Afewerki...

, and his ruling People's Front for Democracy and Justice

People's Front for Democracy and Justice

The People's Front for Democracy and Justice is the current ruling political movement in Eritrea. It is nominally and often considered African socialist and holds itself open to nationalists of any political affiliation. It is the successor to the Eritrean People's Liberation Front...

(PFDJ), formerly referred to as the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF). The PFDJ is the only legally permitted political party in Eritrea. ERIJ also seeks the establishment of an Islamic Government in Eritrea with an eye toward establishing a caliphate in the Horn of Africa. In September 1998, an opposition congress was held in Khartoum, Sudan. At that time, the Eritrean opposition group Harakat al Jihad al Islami (Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement-ERIJ) reportedly changed its name to Harakat al Khalas al Islami al Eritrea (Eritrean Islamic Salvation Movement).

Allies

The other major armed opposition party in Eritrea is the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) which is led by Idris Muhammed Owet. Both groups have historically been based in Sudan.

Leadership

Shaikh Khalil Mohammed Amer is the putative leader of ERIJ. ERIJ's Deputy Emir is Abul Bara' Hassan Salman.

Foreign support

Sudanese authorities have signaled their official support of the movement when they allowed the ERIJ's Secretary-General Sheikh Khalil Mohammed Amer to hold a news conference in Khartoum.

History of attacks

April 12, 2003: Timothy Nutt, a 49 year old British geologist was murdered in western Eritrea allegedly by ERIJ. ERIJ denied responsibility for the attack. Nutt's throat was cut and his vehicle had been burned. His body was found in a dry stream-bed near the village of Bisha. Nutt reportedly worked for the Canadian firm Nevsun Resources
Nevsun Resources
Nevsun Resources Ltd. is a Canadian mining company headquartered in Vancouver, BC. It initially focused on the mining industry in North America; it then shifted its focus to mining in Africa, particularly Eritrea.-Mines:...

, a mineral exploration company specialising in gold and diamond mining. .
August 10, 2003: Two aid workers were killed and another injured when their vehicle was attacked by gunmen in Northern Eritrea. The victims worked for Mercy Corps, a US charity, which has long had a presence in the region. Although no group claimed the attack, Eritrean authorities suspect Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement (ERIJ) which is supported by Sudan.

Sources

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.