Ethiopia is one of the oldest surviving countries in the world. While its current economic, social and political conditions are considered poor from the perspective of a first world nation, the country has been a relative power in the Horn of Africa. It has strong military potential, gross domestic product growth, and a relatively stable international position compared to its neighbors. Over the past 60 years, however, it has been continually embroiled in a border dispute with neighboring Eritrea. Eritrea, a former province of Ethiopia, has fought for decades against the larger nation's control, sparking war in the 1990s and massive tension in the area since. This border conflict has the potential to flare up once again and plunge the already chaotic Horn of Africa into another ongoing conflict. Ethiopia was granted rights to Eritrea in 1952 by the United Nations (UN), most likely because of its valiant efforts against the Axis powers. , especially Italy, during World War II (The World Factbook, 2012). Ethiopia then annexed the smaller country as its province in 1962. Radical opposition to this overthrow of the country's sovereignty began soon after, with the Eritrean Liberation Movement (ELM) acting as the main force against the Ethiopian occupation (Abbink, 2003, p. 408-). 11). The ELM engaged in clandestine political activities intended to cultivate resistance to the centralized policies of the imperial state. The death of the ELM by Ethiopian forces was only the beginning of the conflict; The wars between Ethiopia and Eritrean guerrilla forces have lasted for over 30 years, when Eritrea attempted to gain independence, supported by Ethiopian guerrilla forces who also fought against the harsh dictatorships constantly in place (Shah, 2000). ...... middle of paper ......n, W. (2012, March 16). Eritrea says military raid in Ethiopia marks a decade of aggression. Bloomberg Business Week. Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-03-16/eritrea-says-ethiopia-military-raid-marks-decade-of-aggressionForeign & Commonwealth Office (2012). Ethiopia. Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Retrieved from http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/sub-saharan-africa/ethiopia/Lorton, F. (2000 ). The Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict: a fragile peace. African Security Review, 9 (4), 101-11. Shah, A. (December 20, 2000). “Conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea”. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/article/89/conflitto-tra-etiopia-and-eritreaU.S. Department of State (November 10, 2011). Background note: Ethiopia. US Department of State. Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2859.htm