The Treaty of Addis Ababa, signed in October 1896, abrogated the Treaty of Wichale and reestablished peace. The Italian claim to a protectorate over all of Ethiopia was thereafter abandoned, and the Italian colony of Eritrea, finally delimited by a treaty of peace (September 1900).
By the Treaty of Addis Ababa (Oct. 26, 1896), the country south of the Mareb and Muna rivers was restored to Ethiopia, and Italy acknowledged the absolute independence of Ethiopia
Eritrea was not known before 1890, a year after the death of Emperor Yohannes of Ethiopia.
Menelik II offered Italy the North Mareb(Gash) Region to Italy as a lease. An Italian missionary bought a piece of land from an Afari local warlord and expanded his land larger without the knowledge of the local authorities.
The Wuchale Treaty was signed between King Menelik II of Shewa and Count PietroAntonello Italy on May 2, 1889 at the town of Wuchale, Wollo Province of Amhara region .The treaty stated that the regions of Bogos, Hamasien, Akkele Guzay, and Serae were part of the Italian colony of Eritrea. This happened just 2 months after the death of Emperor Yohannes IV on 10th March 1889.
“Treaty of Wichale, Wichale also spelled Ucciali, (May 2, 1889), pact signed at Wichale, Ethiopia, by the Italians and Menilek II of Ethiopia, whereby Italy was granted the northern Ethiopian territories of Bogos, Hamasen, and Akale-Guzai (modern Eritrea and northern Tigray) in exchange for a sum of money and the provision of 30,000 muskets and 28 cannons.”
Article XVII of the Treaty of Wichale stated that the emperor of Ethiopia “could” have recourse to the good offices of the Italian government in his dealings with other foreign powers; but the Italian text of the treaty had the word “must.” Based on their own text, the Italians proclaimed a protectorate over Ethiopia. In September 1890, Menilek II repudiated their claim, and in 1893 he officially denounced the entire treaty. An attempt by the Italians to impose a protectorate over Ethiopia by force was finally confounded by their defeat at the Battle of Adwa on March 1, 1896. By the Treaty of Addis Ababa (Oct. 26, 1896), the country south of the Mareb and Muna rivers was restored to Ethiopia, and Italy acknowledged the absolute independence of Ethiopia.
The Hewett Treaty, also called the Treaty of Adwa, was an agreement between Britain, Egypt[a] and Ethiopia signed at Adwa on 3 June 1884. The treaty ended a long-simmering conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia, but indirectly started a new conflict between Ethiopia and Italy. It had seven articles.[1]
The terms of the treaty were negotiated at Asmara, in the northern reaches of the Ethiopian empire, by Mason Bey for Egypt, Admiral William Hewett for Britain and Ras Alula, also acting as host, for Ethiopia. Once terms had been agreed, the party moved to Adwa, where the treaty was presented to Emperor Yohannes IV of Ethiopia. The emperor demanded a seaport for Ethiopia, but later compromised. The final treaty represented a triumph of Anglo-Egyptian interests.
The first article of the treaty provided that Ethiopia would have free transit for all goods, including arms, through the port of Massawa. Britain undertook to protect this right. In the second article, Egypt returned Bogos, occupied since 1868, to Ethiopian control. In the third article, Ethiopia agreed to assist the evacuation of Egyptian troops from Kassala, Amadid and Senheit. In the fourth article, Egypt agreed to permit the passage of newly-appointed Abunas to Ethiopia. In the fifth article, Egypt and Ethiopia agreed to the extradition of criminals. In the sixth article, Ethiopia agreed to accept British arbitration in any case of disagreement with Egypt over the terms of the treaty.
Shortly after its ratification, the Italians occupied Massawa, which had been evacuated by Egypt, with tacit British approval.
In general the port of Massawa was taken from Ethiopia given to Italy by Britain ( a classical case of betrayal of Britain)
Thus the so-called "Eritrea" was a collection of districts taken from Tigray, Ethiopia and should be given back to Tigray, Ethiopia.
We need to accept the hard facts of history.
The world is laughing at us becuae we are landlocking Ethiopia and Eritrea occupying land and sea that does not belong to them.
This is simply stupid and ethnonationalism. Eritrea is provoking war by occupying the South Merab region which should be under Ethiopia. We need to force Eritrea to accept the historical evidence and be fait to all coutries in the area. I think Ethiopia is being disadvantaged.
Eritrea is delaying the delimitation of the boundary with Ethiopia because they know they wlllloose the South Mereb Region to Ethiopia. By delaying the delimitation Eritrea will get the current area including The South Merab Region. TPLF has purposey facilitated such situation because TPLF are from Eritrea.
Every political group should condemn Eritrea and force Eritrea to give back the South Merab Region, which belongs to Amhara, Afar and Tigray.
Gash-Setit, including Barentu, Shamboko, Shelalo, Awgaro, Teseney and Emnihajar were not part of Italo-Minilk Agreements as they are located South of Mareb(Gash) River. Thu Gash Setit Region should be given back to Tigray Regional State. Eritrea is demanding Badme and Zalambesa to be part of it's territory. However these areas were always part of Ethiopia and cannot be given to Eritrea. Eritrea is trying to cheat and deceive the international community. Meles Zenawi, the late primw minister of Ethiopia was and Eritrean and favoured Eritrea. Mele Zenawi in fact gave false evidence to The Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission. Meles Zenawi gave Oromos and other ethnic groups in Ethiopia territories that did not belong to them. Meles Zenawi was driven by an anti-Ethiopia hate policy and gave away lands that belonged to Tigray and Amhara, who are the founders of Ethiopia. Dalol and Berhale have alway been part of Tigray. But Meles Zenawi and his henchmen gave it to Afar. Angereb-Lemalimo and Alewaha River regions should have been part of Tigray too.
Source: www.aksumpost.com
