Eritrea and Ethiopia are again at the loggerheads. The ever-persisting border dispute between the two most poverty stricken countries of the world shows no sign of being solved. On Friday Eritrea denied Ethiopian claim of its adoption of a U.N. commission’s ruling over a borderline town blaming latter’s attached conditions as against the spirit of the decision.
Eritrea got independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year bloody guerrilla war. Though, the Horn of Africa neighbors originally consented to accept the U.N. boundary commission’s 2002 ruling giving Badme to Eritrea, Ethiopia has yet to hand it over.
The disputed city of Badme is being claimed by both nations. A blood-spattered war commenced in 1998 after Ethiopian military opened fire on Eritrean soldiers in the city. Though, a UN brokered truce agreement to cease hostilities was signed in 2000, the simmering border tensions have often flared to the point of a full-scale war.
Last week, in a communique to the U.N. Security Council, the Ethiopian government pledged its unconditional acceptance of commission’s 2002 decision putting Eritrea full compliance with the 2000 cease-fire agreement as the pre-condition. Its demand for sanctions for non-compliance irked the Eritrean administration. It even went in to blame Ethiopia and urged the Security Council to impose sanctions to compel Ethiopia to comply.
The Horn of Africa is being increasingly seen as the most volatile part of the world. The ongoing war between government and Al-Qaeda supported Islamists in Somalia add to the existing two-decade old conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The news of presence of global terrorist supported by Osama Bin Laden and continuous acts by sea-pirates is surely a cause of concern for the world. Peace eludes most part of Africa and in Horn of Africa warmongers reign supreme.
Via: Yahoo
