As Deadline Approaches, Tensions Flare Along Eritrea-Ethiopia Border
| By Arnaud Camu and Sarah Cook Epoch Times Canada and London Staff | Dec 21, 2005 |
(3504 x 2336 px, 300 dpi) In another escalation of the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the latter issued an unusual order last week: that all United Nations (UN) peacekeeping personnel from Western countries be expelled.
"In my five years as the head of peacekeeping, I have not been confronted with a similar situation," said Jean-Marie Guéhenno, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, during a press briefing in the Eritrean capital Asmara. "I would stress that we are at a critical time … never has there been such a great crisis for the Mission."
The present crisis is the latest in a series of ongoing tensions that have escalated in recent months over border demarcation between the two African nations. As both sides have been amassing troops along the disputed border, Eritrea has placed increasing limits on the UN peacekeeping mission appointed to monitor a cease-fire agreement signed in 2000.
Late last month, Eritrea demanded that the blue helmets cease their helicopter patrols and later also prohibited nocturnal ground patrols. In response, the UN Security Council passed a resolution on November 23 calling on both armies to redeploy outside of a buffer zone along the frontier and to end all restrictions on UN operations within 30 days.
As the deadline approaches, Eritrea has instead added new restrictions. On December 6, Asmara demanded that the members of the UN peacekeeping mission (UNMEE) from the United States, Canada and Europe leave the country within ten days. While Western personnel represent only a small portion of the armed forces, they dominate important logistical posts. According to UNMEE, the decision will affect 180 military observers, administrative personnel, and volunteers.
UNMEE, counting almost 3,300 people, has been present in the Temporary Security Zones between the two countries since 2000 in order to secure a cease fire. The agreement was reached after a two-year war over a border dispute that killed tens of thousands of people. That conflict was itself an extension of a 30 year war that ended in 1993 when Eritrea obtained its independence from Ethiopia.
In both cases, a consensus was never reached regarding the placement of the border, which has therefore remained a sensitive question. To resolve the matter, an international boundary commission issued a ruling last year, by which both countries had initially agreed to abide.
Despite such promises, however, Ethiopia has been slow to implement the decision, awarded Eritrea a town that had previously been under the former's jurisdiction. Eritrea's recent aggression has thus been interpreted as an expression of frustration over Ethiopia's inaction in withdrawing to the allotted boundary.
Mission Failure?
Despite the prevailing tensions and restrictions, head of UN peacekeeping Guéhenno insists that the mission has not been a failure because the presence of UN troops has nonetheless provided reassurance that is important for peace. At the same time, he expressed disappointment at a press briefing last week over Ethiopia's lack of progress toward implementing the Boundary Commission's ruling for the establishment of a permanent border.
Guéhenno also criticized Eritrea's response and the restrictions it has placed on the UNMEE.
"The Mission is doing a favor actually to the country at a great cost for the international community," he said. "So letting the Mission do its work is not a favor to the Mission; it's the least that the Mission can expect from a country where it is deployed."
Guéhenno also raised the dangers posed to mission personnel as a result of the constraints on helicopter patrols. For instance, the restriction renders it impossible to employ a rapid evacuation in an emergency, such as a serious car accident or a snake bite, realistic situations that the mission has already encountered.
With regard to the recent expulsion order, he conveyed the feelings of the personnel being forced to depart.
"[They] are attached to this country because they see the courage of the Eritrean population, its energy, so there is a certain sadness to leave", he said. "There is also a sadness at seeing the work they did, the work for peace… being endangered at this moment."
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