During the Eritrean War of Independence, more than 30% of the Eritrean freedom fighters during the Eritrean War of Independence were women.
The Eritrean War of Independence was a conflict between successive Ethiopian governments and Eritrean independence fighters from September 1, 1961, to May 24, 1991.
Eritrea became part of Ethiopia after World War II, after Italy was defeated and both regions were liberated from Italian occupation.
The Marxist Ethiopian government enjoyed the support of the Soviet Union until 1989 when Glasnost and Perestroika began to influence Moscow's foreign policies, leading to a cessation of support for foreign allies.
The war lasted for 30 years until 1991 when the Eritrean People's Liberation Front defeated Ethiopian forces in Eritrea, taking control of the country.
In April 1993, in a referendum supported by Ethiopia, the Eritrean people voted almost unanimously in favor of independence. Official international recognition of an independent and sovereign Eritrea followed later the same year.
