The Eritrean Tigrinya and their impact on the Horn of AfricaThis article focuses on the Eritrean Tigrinya, their past role as a catalyst that began the 30-year Eritrean war for independence from Ethiopia, and their possible future use in stabilizing the Horn of Africa (Almedom, 2006). The pannational Eritrean government has been accused of arming and funding the al-Qaida-linked Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab, as well as other terrorist organizations in Somalia, by the United States, the United Nations and the African Union (Abraha, 2009). . The world at large seems to take two very distinct and contradictory positions on the political aspirations of Tigrayans; some people believe that the current Eritrean government which supports terrorism, spreads the Islamic, totalitarian caliphate and oppresses minorities, is guided by the will of the Tigrayan (Advameg, 2011; Adem, Izaz, Abubaker, 2011). Others argue that the majority of Tigrayans oppose the current pan-national Eritrean government (Schmitz-Pranghe, 2010). I am inclined to support the latter school of thought; quite simply, it is almost inconceivable that an Orthodox Christian culture would support Islamic extremism or make any attempt to secure an Islamic state within striking distance of its own people. To fully understand the Tigrinya of Eritrea we must also examine the Tiger of Ethiopia. The Tigrinya and Tigre live in southern Eritrea and northern Ethiopia in the highlands, respectively (Lundquist and Jenkins, 2011). Culturally the Eritrean Tigrinya and the Ethiopian Tigre are extremely similar, sharing customs, language and heritage, but they do not agree politically nor do they consider themselves a united group of people (Jenkins, 2009). Most of the Tigrinya and Tig...... half of the newspaper ......www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/world/africa/25iht-eritrea.4.13193224.html?pagewanted=all3 . WRITENET, Sudan - Eritrea: Early Warning Note, 1 April 1996, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3ae6a6b68.html [accessed 6 November 2011]4. Eritrea, Country-Specific Information – US Department of State – International Travel - http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1111.htm5. Ethiopia and the UN accuse Eritrea of ​​supporting Al Shabaab - Thursday 28 July 2011 17:40 - http://www.theafricareport.com/index.php/201107285168012/news-analysis/ethiopia-and-un- accusations-eritrea-of -backing-al-shabaab-5168012.html8. Orthodox Church1. A Writenet report by Assefaw Bariagaber commissioned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Status Determination and Protection Information Section (DIPS) 1 October 2006 - http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/ 4538821e4.pdf