Some different Ethiopian Post-WWII Borders

[Deleted member 109224]

Britain wasn't too into giving Eritrea to Ethiopia.
Britain also was for swapping the Haud (a triangle-shaped territory of grazing lands south of British Somaliland).
OTL Britain contemplated handing South Sudan to Uganda.

So here's a thought:

1. Eritrea becomes independent instead of becoming part of Ethiopia
2. Britain swaps Zeila for the haud
3. Ethiopia settles the boundary dispute with Italian Somaliland in Italian Somaliland's favor
4. Britain cedes South Sudan to Ethiopia

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[Hagre]

Why is Ethiopia being conceded SS when it has no territorial ambitions in that area and no one in Ethiopia wants it?

It’d make more sense if Ethiopia got Eritrea while conceding the Ogaden to Somalia, although something might be negotiated over Ethiopia retaining the Addis-Djibouti Railway.

 

[Deleted member 109224]

Why is Ethiopia being conceded SS when it has no territorial ambitions in that area and no one in Ethiopia wants it?

"Well Emperor we can't give you Eritrea, but here's this other big chunk of land with water and resources for you to enjoy" is basically it.
The British didn't want to give South Sudan to Egypt, so this sort of kills two birds with one stone.

The British contemplated partitioning Eritrea OTL though, with Ethiopia getting the Bogos and Sudan getting another chunk of it. Maybe Ethiopia gives up part of its claim to Eritrea in exchange for Sudan handing over its southern restive bits.

The issue is, Eritrea didn't want to be part of Ethiopia, except perhaps as part of a federation. Selassie wasn't all that interested in federalism however.

It’d make more sense if Ethiopia got Eritrea while conceding the Ogaden to Somalia, although something might be negotiated over Ethiopia retaining the Addis-Djibouti Railway.

What is Ethiopia getting for giving up Ogaden? The Haud-Zeila exchange was somewhat proportionate.

 

[Hagre]

"Well Emperor we can't give you Eritrea, but here's this other big chunk of land with water and resources for you to enjoy" is basically it.
The British didn't want to give South Sudan to Egypt, so this sort of kills two birds with one stone.

The British contemplated partitioning Eritrea OTL though, with Ethiopia getting the Bogos and Sudan getting another chunk of it. Maybe Ethiopia gives up part of its claim to Eritrea in exchange for Sudan handing over its southern restive bits.

The issue is, Eritrea didn't want to be part of Ethiopia, except perhaps as part of a federation. Selassie wasn't all that interested in federalism however.

What is Ethiopia getting for giving up Ogaden? The Haud-Zeila exchange was somewhat proportionate.

Why not just make southern Sudan an independent state?

Ethiopia getting the predominantly Christian Highlands of Eritrea could work.

Considering the size and prominent role that the Unionist faction played in pushing for union with Ethiopia and dismantling the federal framework that existed, I think it could be argued that those who didn’t want to be a part of Ethiopia were either Muslim minorities or Italians. Those who argued for a federation were the predominantly Muslim parties like the Muslim League and they agreed to it on the basis that one of the languages of the province be Arabic.

Fair enough.

 

[fluttersky]

Britain wasn't too into giving Eritrea to Ethiopia.
Britain also was for swapping the Haud (a triangle-shaped territory of grazing lands south of British Somaliland).
OTL Britain contemplated handing South Sudan to Uganda.

So here's a thought:

1. Eritrea becomes independent instead of becoming part of Ethiopia
2. Britain swaps Zeila for the haud
3. Ethiopia settles the boundary dispute with Italian Somaliland in Italian Somaliland's favor
4. Britain cedes South Sudan to Ethiopia

View attachment 494237

​

Similar idea to this... it occurs to me that a "natural" western border for Ethiopia would be the Nile.

 

[Falecius]

Similar idea to this... it occurs to me that a "natural" western border for Ethiopia would be the Nile.

View attachment 494361

The Nile works as a highway, not a border.
Also, good luck making all those Sudanese Muslim Arabs in Sennar and Meroe accept to be ruled by a Christian Emperor literally named "The Force of Trinity".

 

[Deleted member 109224]

Similar idea to this... it occurs to me that a "natural" western border for Ethiopia would be the Nile.

View attachment 494361

The Nile works as a highway, not a border.
Also, good luck making all those Sudanese Muslim Arabs in Sennar and Meroe accept to be ruled by a Christian Emperor literally named "The Force of Trinity".

Plus, a bunch of rivers that feed into the Nile are in western South Sudan.