The Eritrean War of Independence (1 September 1961 - 29 May 1991) is a conflict fought between the Ethiopian government and Eritrean separatists, both before and during the Ethiopian Civil War.The war goes on for 30 years until 1991 when the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), having defeated the Ethiopian forces in Eritrea, takes control of the country.

In April 1993, in a referendum supported by Ethiopia, the Eritrean people vote almost unanimously in favor of independence.

Formal international recognition of an independent and sovereign Eritrea follows later the same year.The two main rebel groups fight two Eritrean civil wars during the war of liberation.