Author’s Note
The History Of The USA In Eritrea is a significant untold history of the US involvement in Africa that set the precedent of the US presence in Africa in the aftermath of World War II. It is significant because it was where the US first established major presence in Africa after the end of the war leading to the beginning of the Cold War competition between the United States and the former Soviet Union.
The US entering Eritrea signify major historical events. It was the end of the colonial era and the beginning of the Neo-Colonial period in Africa. The Anglophone and Francophone Africa of today started then.
It was the moment that ended the British Empire. When Sir Winston Churchill sought American assistance in World War II, in its war against Italy in Eritrea, the British passed the baton to the US thus ending its long dominance in the continent and the region.
The end of the Cold War ushered in a new opportunity for the US. However, the Bill Clinton Administration continued the Cold War policies. The author addressed its implications for Eritrea, the region, and to an extent Africa. I also addressed its impact on the US’s global standing today.
That is what the History of The USA in Eritrea introduces to the world. The US involvement in Eritrea is personal to Eritreans around the world. Most, if not all the information available on the subject is based on information provided by westerners. So there is a gap. Because western accounts cannot address Eritrean side of the story.
The US involvement in Eritrea was also significant for Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa, and the entire African continent for many reasons.
So it is an attempt to set the record straight. Provide a perspective by including the impact on the lives of the people of Eritrea. To tell our stories especially to the young generation Eritreans so the can start gaining an accurate picture of their past. It is an attempt to connect the past with the present. And to establish a good basis and foundation for future generation Eritreans.
Amanuel Biedemariam
