By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – On Tuesday, Ethiopia threatened to terminate their peace treaty with Eritrea claiming that Eritrea has violated the Algiers Peace Agreement. According to a letter sent to Eritrea’s Foreign Minister, Ethiopia claims that Asmara is coordinating “terrorist activity.” The statement was also delivered to the US, the UN, Algeria, the European Union and the African Union.
The Algiers Peace Agreement was implemented in 2000 after a 1998-2000 border war that killed some 80,000 people. The war was sparked by Ethiopia’s refusal to hand over the town of Badme. Both sides agreed to accept a decision by an independent border commission as full and binding. In 2002, the UN boundary panel decided in favor of Eritrea, awarding them rights to Badme, although Ethiopia asserts the decision splits families. Ethiopia continues to request a revision of the decision.
Eritrea denies all allegations of breaching the pact or supporting terrorists. In response to Ethiopia’s threat, Eritrea’s information minister dismissed the warning as “irrelevant.” Eritrea insists that Ethiopia comply with the border ruling and claims the terrorists allegation is built on their failure to accept the ruling. Eritrea reports that they will do anything to avoid another war but will not “compromise [their] sovereignty or territorial integrity.”
Despite their disagreements and endless accusations, analysts and diplomats speculate that neither side wants to start a full-fledge conflict. Regardless, there is a rigid tension between Eritrea and Ethiopian troops posted meters apart in what was suppose to be a neutral buffer zone.
The two countries are on opposite sides of the Somali conflict. Ethiopia has active troops in Somalia maintaining peace and supporting the present government, whereas Eritrea has declared its commitment to the Somali people to protect their independence. Furthermore, many of the Islamist rebels expelled from Somalia in December and accused of frequent bombing attacks freely inhabit Asmara. The United States, an Ethiopian ally, has also accused Eritrea of being a terrorist state.
For more information, please see:
Reuters- Eritrea insists Ethiopia implements border ruling – 26 September 2007
BBC- Eritrea rejects Ethiopia Warning – 26 September 2007
Yahoo News- Ethiopia threatens to terminate fragile peace accord with Eritrea – 25 September 2007
