Unionist Party

The Unionist Party was a political group in Eritrea that supported the idea of union with Ethiopia. This party was largely supported by the Christian population in Eritrea's highlands. The Ethiopian government sponsored the Unionist Party as it sought international support to regain control of its coastal province, Eritrea.1

Ethiopia, under Emperor Menilek II, expanded significantly between 1896 and 1906, reaching its present size. This expansion was fueled by revenues from the periphery, which were used to modernize the capital, Addis Ababa, and develop communication networks. Menilek II also oversaw the construction of a railway connecting Addis Ababa to Djibouti, which facilitated the exploitation of the country's resources by foreign merchants in collaboration with local elites. In 1952, the United Nations, with prompting from the United States, resolved to federate Eritrea with Ethiopia, granting Eritrea autonomy under its own constitution and elected government.23