- The UN Security Council has ordered Eritrea to withdraw its forces from a disputed border region with Djibouti. The border dispute that burst into fighting in June 2008, killed at least 35 people and left dozens wounded.
The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution yesterday, giving Eritrea five weeks ultimatum to withdraw its forces and all their equipment and ensure that no military presence or activity would be pursued in Ras Doumeira and Doumeira island.
The resolution, drafted by France, demanded Eritrea to comply immediately with its demands and in any case, no later than five weeks after the adoption of the resolution.
It welcomed the fact that Djibouti withdrew its forces from the disputed areas as requested by the council last June and condemned Asmara's refusal to vacate the disputed land.
The council said it would review the situation six weeks from the adoption of this resolution on the basis of a report on the compliance by both parties with their obligations to be submitted by UN chief Ban Ki-moon in six weeks.
Last October, the United States had warned Eritrea that it faced appropriate action from the council if it refused to cooperate to resolve its border dispute with Djibouti peacefully.
The Council encouraged the African Union and the Arab League to strengthen their efforts to engage both parties in diplomacy, and asked Mr Ban to contact both organisations before reporting back on the matter within six weeks.
Last June's confrontation was the first clash since 1996. The two countries had in the past clashed twice over the border area at the southern end of the Red Sea, in 1996 and 1999.
Eritrea which gained independence in 1993 from Ethiopia has been a menace in the horn of Africa having been involved in two serious conflicts on border demarcation with its neighbours and is still recovering from its 1998 war with Ethiopia.
Tension between the Horn of Africa countries has been high since 16 April 2008 when Eritrean troops raided Ras Doumeira, a disputed promontory on the shores of the Red Sea.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español