Eritrean Liberation Struggle Shifted from Voluntary Commitment to Forced Recruitment
The Eritrean liberation movement, known as the ghedli, underwent a significant transformation from a voluntary, morally driven struggle to one characterized by forced recruitment, or giffa. Initially, the tegadalai (fighter) was not paid, did not serve colonial power, and was sustained by traditional hospitality and contributions, embodying a moral agent whose sacrifice was voluntary. This ethos was evident in practices like the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) allowing fighters annual leave, trusting their return based on conviction. However, a decisive rupture occurred with the introduction of giffa, which eroded the moral foundation of the struggle. This shift was driven by several factors in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including the transition from guerrilla warfare to positional warfare requiring more manpower, and a demographic surge of young Eritreans joining the fight due to Derg brutality. While this surge was initially voluntary, overwhelming the capacity of both the ELF and the Eritrean Peopl... 
