Historical eventMarch 171988

Eritrean War of Independence

Eritrean War of Independence: Eritrean People's Liberation Front troops encircled Ethiopian forces in the Battle of Afabet, gaining a decisive victory three days later.

Everything on March 17Original source

In context

When
Thursday, March 17 198838 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1980s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1988.

What happened

Eritrean War of Independence: Eritrean People's Liberation Front troops encircled Ethiopian forces in the Battle of Afabet, gaining a decisive victory three days later.

March 17 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1985Richard Ramirez
  2. 1988Colombia
  3. 1988Eritrean War of Independence
  4. 19921992 South African apartheid referendum
  5. 19921992 Buenos Aires Israeli embassy bombing
  6. 2000Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God
  7. 2000Uganda
  8. 2003Leader of the House of Commons
  9. 20042004 unrest in Kosovo
  10. 2011Libyan civil war (2011)
  11. 2016Rojava Revolution

Also in 1988

  • September 9Vietnam Airlines Flight 831Vietnam Airlines Flight 831 crashes in Khu Khot, Thailand, while on approach to Don Muang International Airport, killing 76.
  • March 14Johnson South Reef skirmishChina defeated Vietnam in a naval altercation while attempting to establish oceanographic observation posts on the Spratly Islands.
  • September 12Hurricane GilbertHurricane Gilbert devastates Jamaica; it turns towards Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula two days later, causing an estimated $5 billion in damage.
  • September 13Hurricane GilbertHurricane Gilbert reached a minimum pressure of 888 mb (26.22 inHg) with sustained flight-level winds of 185 mph (295 km/h), making it th…
  • September 188888 UprisingThe 8888 Uprising in Myanmar comes to an end.
  • September 18Henri NamphyGeneral Henri Namphy, president of Haiti, is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by General Prosper Avril.
  • September 18Magna Charta UniversitatumThe Magna Charta Universitatum, asserting key principles essential to the free operation of universities, is signed in Bologna by the rec…
  • August 10Civil Liberties Act of 1988The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 became law, authorizing reparations to surviving Japanese Americans interned during World War II.

Everything we record for 1988 →

Sources

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“Eritrean War of Independence”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/eritrean-war-of-independence-1988-march-17, accessed October 28, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did Eritrean War of Independence happen?

March 17 1988 — 38 years ago, on a Thursday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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