Introduction

From 1974 until the defeat of the Somali invasion in 1978, the regime's problems allowed the TPLF and other opposition groups a measure of freedom in which to launch their insurrections. With victory in the Ogaden and massive Soviet support the government's priority turned to crushing the Eritrean Fronts which it was convinced would bring an end to insurrections in Tigray and other parts of the country. The TPLF reported that there were 30,000 Derg troops in Tigray by the end of May 1978, three times the number of two months previously. None the less, although possessing a much depleted fighting force and still only having the committed support of a small number of peasants, victories over the EDU and EPRP gave the TPLF considerable confidence.

Derg repression against the civilian population led to growing disenchantment among peasants and produced increasing numbers of urban youth fleeing the towns who joined the TPLF. Together with the regime's failure to defeat the EPLF, by the mid-1980s there was a marked change in the balance of forces. But before the strategic initiative could pass to the opposition movements, northern Ethiopia and Eritrea were afflicted with famine. The period thus ends with the famine being contained and the TPLF going through internal adjustments in preparation for the march to victory.