The Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement (EIJM) was formally established in 1980. A conference was held in Khartoum, Sudan where the National Eritrean Islamic Liberation Front, the Islamic Vanguard, the Organization of Eritrean Pioneer Muslims, and the Islamic Awakening merged to create and headquarter the EIJM.[1] The large majority of EIJM members are Muslim youth network members, conservative Eritreans, or refugees who have sought asylum in Sudan. In 2003, EIJM changed its name to the Eritrean Islamic Reform Movement.[2]

EIJM has three political goals: (1) jihad against the Eritrean government and its president, Isaias Afewerki[3]; (2) to create an Islamic Eritrean State[4]; and retribution for Eritrea’s history of anti-Muslim discrimination.[5] Led by Khalil Mohammed Amer, EIJM’s violent actions and insurgent operations are mainly focused in western Eritrea.[6] EIJM, the Eritrean Liberation Front, Islah, and the Eritrean Federal Democratic Movement (EFDM) created the Eritrean Solidarity Front (ESF).[7] ESF is the umbrella organization for its member insurgent groups, which still exist separately with their own leadership structures.[8] Even with EIJM’s new membership in ESF, EIJM still remains one of the most vocal insurgent groups against Eritrea, and continues to work in representing the repressed Islamic population. View full narrative