Revolution Day (Eritrea)

Revolution Day is a public holiday in Eritrea, and it is observed on September 1 each year. The holiday commemorates the start of the Eritrean War of Independence on this day in 1961.

Eritrea is a country in Eastern Africa. Following the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, an Italian company bought the lands surrounding the Bay of Assab, and transferred to the Italian state three years later. This made Italians to settle in Eritrea without much difficulty. Eritrea became an Italian protectorate in 1889, and an Italian colony in 1897.

The British forces defeated the Italian army in 1941 in Eritrea. The territory was under the British military administration temporarily. In 1952, Eritrea became part of Ethiopia as an autonomous federal province following the United Nations' decision.

However, people had different opinions within Eritrea. In 1960, the Muslim leaders formed the Eritrean Liberation Front fighting for independence. The Eritrean Liberation Front organized a revolution on September 1, 1961, and opened fire on the occupying Ethiopian Army, which marked the beginning of the War of Independence.

The war lasted almost 30 years until May 24, 1991, when the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) moved into the capital Asmara. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians died during the war.

The following is the list of Revolution Day in Eritrea from 2022 to 2026.

Please check more public holidays in Eritrea: