United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea

Last updated
United Nations Office in Ethiopia and Eritrea
AbbreviationUNMEE
Formation31 July 2000
Dissolved31 July 2008
TypePeacekeeping Mission
Legal statusCompleted
Head
 Azouz Ennifar
Parent organization
 United Nations Security Council
Website Web archive of former UNMEE website

The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) was established by the United Nations Security Council in July 2000 [1] to monitor a ceasefire in the border war that began in 1998 between Ethiopia and Eritrea. First military troops Netherlands - Canadian battalion 'NECBAT' arrived and established bases in the region in December 2000.

Contents

The mission was formally abandoned in July 2008 [2] after experiencing serious difficulties in sustaining its troops due to fuel stoppages [3] and after due consideration of remaining options. [4]

History

On July 31, 2000, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1312 and established UNMEE. The mission was put in place in order to formally demarcate the border between the two countries. The border followed the route as declared by an international commission in The Hague but Ethiopia refused to accept the ruling, despite originally agreeing to binding arbitration. [5]

The mission maintained headquarters in Asmara (Eritrea), and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and consisted of 1,676 military personnel, amid high tensions between the two countries. About 1,500 of these peacekeepers were from the Indian Army. In addition, there were about 147 international civilians, 202 local civilians and 67 UN Volunteers. Their area of responsibility was a buffer zone 25 kilometers (15 miles) wide on the Eritrean side of the Ethiopian-Eritrean border. There have been recorded 20 fatalities: 13 military personnel, 3 international civilian personnel and 4 local civilian personnel. The approved budget for the mission between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008 was $118.99 million.[ citation needed ]

The border between Ethiopia and Eritrea has remained closed and thousands of people live in refugee camps while perhaps a million people remain displaced. In October 2005, the Eritrean government restricted UNMEE helicopter flights along the border and demanded the reduction of the UNMEE force by 300 staffers. Eritrea also restricted movement of ground patrols inside the buffer zone. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1640 in November 2005 threatened sanctions on both parties if there was no resolution.

In September 2007, United Nations special envoy to the Horn of Africa, Kjell Magne Bondevik, warned that war could resume between Ethiopia and Eritrea over their border conflict. In November, Eritrea accepted the border line demarcated by the international boundary commission, which was rejected by Ethiopia. In January 2008 the UN extended the mandate of peacekeepers on Ethiopia-Eritrea border for six months, and UN Security Council demanded Eritrea lift fuel restrictions imposed on UN peacekeepers at the Eritrea-Ethiopia border area. Eritrea declined, saying troops must leave border, and in February the UN began pulling out the 1,700-strong peacekeeper force due to lack of fuel supplies following Eritrean government restrictions. In April, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon warned of the likelihood of new war between Ethiopia and Eritrea if peacekeeping mission is withdrawn completely, and outlines options for the future of the UN mission in the two countries. In May, Eritrea called on UN to terminate the peacekeeping mission. [6]

The mission was ended with effect from 31 July 2008 with a UNSC resolution adopted on 30 July 2008. Peacekeepers had been driven from the border zone by Eritrea by February 2008, and Ethiopia had refused to accept a binding International Court of Justice ruling on the border issue. There are fears that this may set a precedent to show that a country can force out UN peacekeepers. Analysts also fear a new war may erupt between Ethiopia and Eritrea over the border dispute. [7] Eritrea has, however, tried to allay fears over a new war. [8]

Staff and forces

On 30 November 2007, UNMEE had a total of 1,676 military personnel, including 1,464 troops and 212 military observers, supported by 147 international civilians, 202 local civilians and 67 UN Volunteers.

Contributors of military personnel:

Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe

See also

Related Research Articles

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United Nations Security Council resolution 1312, adopted unanimously on 31 July 2000, after reaffirming resolutions 1298 (1999) on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and 1308 (2000), the council established the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) in anticipation of a peacekeeping operation subject to future authorisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1320</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2000

United Nations Security Council resolution 1320, adopted unanimously on 15 September 2000, after reaffirming resolutions 1298 (1999), 1308 (2000) and 1312 (2000) on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and 1308 (2000), the Council deployed a military component as part of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) and extended its mandate until 15 March 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1344</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2001

United Nations Security Council resolution 1344, adopted unanimously on 15 March 2001, after reaffirming resolutions 1298 (1999), 1308 (2000), 1312 (2000) and 1320 (2000) on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and 1308 (2000), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) until 15 September 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1369</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2001

United Nations Security Council resolution 1369, adopted unanimously on 14 September 2001, after reaffirming resolutions 1298 (1999), 1308 (2000), 1312 (2000), 1320 (2000) and 1344 (2001) on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) until 15 March 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1398</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2002

United Nations Security Council resolution 1398, adopted unanimously on 15 March 2002, after reaffirming resolutions 1298 (1999), 1308 (2000), 1312 (2000), 1320 (2000), 1344 (2001) and 1369 (2001) on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, the council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) until 15 September 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1434</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2002

United Nations Security Council resolution 1434, adopted unanimously on 6 September 2002, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, particularly Resolution 1430 (2002), the council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) until 15 March 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1466</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2003

United Nations Security Council resolution 1466, adopted unanimously on 14 March 2003, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, particularly Resolution 1434 (2002), the council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) until 15 September 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1507</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2003

United Nations Security Council resolution 1507, adopted unanimously on 12 September 2003, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, particularly Resolution 1466 (2003), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) until 15 March 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1560</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2004

United Nations Security Council resolution 1560, adopted unanimously on 14 September 2004, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, particularly Resolution 1531 (2004), the council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) until 15 March 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1586</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2005

United Nations Security Council resolution 1586, adopted unanimously on 14 March 2005, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, particularly Resolution 1560 (2004), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) until 15 September 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1622</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2005

United Nations Security Council resolution 1622, adopted unanimously on 13 September 2005, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, particularly Resolution 1586 (2005), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) until 15 March 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1640</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2005

United Nations Security Council resolution 1640, adopted unanimously on 23 November 2005, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, particularly Resolution 1622 (2005), the Council demanded that Eritrea lift restrictions on the movement of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1670</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2006

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1670, adopted unanimously on April 13, 2006, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, particularly resolutions 1640 (2005) and 1661 (2006), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) for a period of one month until May 15, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1681</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2006

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1681, adopted unanimously on May 31, 2006, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, particularly resolutions 1320 (2000), 1430 (2003), 1466 (2003), 1640 (2005) and 1678 (2006), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) until September 30, 2006, and cut its size by a third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1710</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2006

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1710, adopted unanimously on September 29, 2006, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, particularly resolutions 1320 (2000), 1430 (2003), 1466 (2003), 1640 (2005) and 1681 (2006), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) for four months until January 31, 2007.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1798 was unanimously adopted on 30 January 2008.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1827 was unanimously adopted on 30 July 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict</span> Territorial conflict (1998–2018)

The Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict was a violent standoff and a proxy conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia lasting from 1998 to 2018. It consisted of a series of incidents along the then-disputed border; including the Eritrean–Ethiopian War of 1998–2000 and the subsequent Second Afar insurgency. It included multiple clashes with numerous casualties, including the Battle of Tsorona in 2016. Ethiopia stated in 2018 that it would cede Badme to Eritrea. This led to the Eritrea–Ethiopia summit on 9 July 2018, where an agreement was signed which demarcated the border and agreed a resumption of diplomatic relations.

References

  1. ↑ United Nations Security Council Resolution1312. S/RES/1312(2000) 31 July 2000. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  2. ↑ United Nations Security Council Resolution1827. S/RES/1827(2008) 30 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  3. ↑ United Nations Security Council Document145. Special report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and EritreaS/2008/145 3 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  4. ↑ United Nations Security Council Document226. Special report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and EritreaS/2008/226 7 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  5. ↑ "Report of the Secretary-General on Ethiopia and Eritrea". 2005-03-07. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  6. ↑ , BBC News, 19 June 2008
  7. ↑ "AFP: Security Council ends UN monitoring of Eritrea-Ethiopia row". Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Eritrea allays fears over new war". BBC News. 31 July 2008.
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