The peace deal signed between Eritrea and Ethiopia last month has ended more than 20 years of tension between two countries that were once an entity. “Last week, they were told that they won’t serve beyond 18 months because the dynamics have changed,” the source which pleaded anonymity said. Eritrea first introduced a compulsory 18 months national service for Eritreans aged 18 to 50 in 1995, to help in ‘rebuilding’ Eritrea after it won a 30-year secession war against Ethiopia. National service for Eritreans includes six months of military training, with an additional 12 months to work on developmental projects in the country. However, unlimited national service started in Eritrea after tensions over the border with Ethiopia boiled out into a major war that lasted 2 years.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 24, 2018 17:59 UTC