This Article is written by Sunaina of 6th Semester from Panjab University, Department of LAW, Chandigarh, Punjab
Abstract: Last year 2018 the rapport between Ethiopia and Eritrea had also changed in a assortment of ways such as agreements signed between them. However, in sequence can be quite old, and it is central to check the most modern news from more current sources.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has important role in resolving conflicts and ensuring international peace and security. In the case that there have been additional pestering or alterations concerning the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict, it is possible for the UNSC to participate in more than a few approaches. Here are some general aspects to regard as: Peacekeeping Operation, castigatory measures and appeasement declaration, Foreign Relation, donor support etc.
Keywords: Security, Operation, Peace, Conflict, Resolution.
Introduction to the Ethiopian-Eritrean Conflict: The implication of the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict on regional stability and human rights has been witnessed by Security Council closely. Some of the main issues that have hampered the Security Council’s efforts to deal with this conflict includes the fact some causes of social tensions remain unresolved, involvement in the conflict by third parties such and an unresolved border dispute between two countries (Müller 2012). In order to tackle these challenges, the Security Council has adopted a comprehensive approach that involves peacekeeping missions and efforts towards negotiation of the border dispute while promoting an endurable peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Moreover, it is significant that the Security Council addresses human rights protection in the region and ensures that there is a rapid response mechanism established to address urgent human rights conditions in conflict affected regions. The Security Council has been focusing on the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict closely and this conflict can represent a very serious threat for regional stability and human rights.
Security Council Involvement in the Conflict: The role of Security Council in the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict has been so important. In response to the conflict, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1227 (1999), which demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea, condemned forceful methods of solving disputes and stressed a need for peaceful solution based on Framework Agreement accepted by Organization of African Unity OAU . The Security Council fully supported the efforts of the OAU, Secretary-General and interested Member States to find a peaceful solution to hostilities.
In addition, the Security Council imposed measures aimed at stopping either country from receiving weapons or arms-related assistance and demanded to reconvene meaningful negotiations on a peace deal without preconditions. The Security Council also echoed grave concern at the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, considering its political, humanitarian and security implications.
Moreover, the Security Council deployed United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) to help with implementation of Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea , as well as verification ceasefire and delineation of borders between two countries.
In summary, the Security Council’s engagement in the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict has been multifaceted in scope which includes an instant cessation of hostilities, action focused on suppressing arms supply, partial endorsement of peace talks and deployment of United Nations mission aimed at facilitating a truce and outline boundaries.
Peacekeeping Measures Implemented: The situation between Ethiopia and Eritrea had been complex, and peacekeeping efforts were ongoing. It’s important to note that the situation may have evolved since then, and you should check the latest sources for the most up-to-date information. However, as of my last update, here are some of the peacekeeping measures that were being implemented or proposed:
Peace Agreement (2018): In July 2018, Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a historic peace agreement which ended decades of hostilities between them and brought about the normalisation of diplomatic relations. The international community, including efforts by the African Union and other regional actors facilitated this agreement.
Withdrawal of Troops: The commitment to pull out troops from the disputed border were one major gauge of the peace agreement. The two states had deployed military forces in the border area hence tensions and wars sprung up. Withdrawal of troops was one important step towards reducing tension.
International Monitoring: People demanded international monitoring of the peace agreement’s implementation. Monitoring the situation and ensuring that both parties observed terms of the agreement were organizations such as the United Nations and African Union.
Diplomatic Engagement: Regional and international actors participated in helping to facilitate diplomatic action between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The African Union was in particular seeking to facilitate dialogue and reconciliation.
Humanitarian Assistance: Humanitarian assistance is often needed in conflict-affected areas. Measures were also taken to help those affected by the conflict, including internally displaced people and refugees. Humanitarian groups and the world community was addressing the needs of at-risk populations.
Reconstruction and Development: Post conflict reconstruction and development interventions were seen necessary for consolidating sustainable peace. These efforts were aimed at addressing the origins of the conflict, promoting economic development and improving the overall well-being of people in both countries.
Again it is important to establish the current condition of the situation, as circumstances may have evolved since my last update.
Role of the Security Council in Border Resolution: 1998 conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea was a border dispute which had grave humanitarian consequences for the civilian population of both countries. After the resumption of armed confrontations in 2000, the UN Security Council made a statement and imposed restrictions to ensure that no weapons or other arms-related assistance is dispatched to either state.
As a result of the conflict, the United Nations created the UNMEE – United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea – to help implement the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities between the two countries. One of UNMEE’s mandateable tasks included establishing and maintaining liaison with the parties, visiting parties’ military headquarters, verifying cessation of hostilities from the battlefield and preparation for setting up Military Coordination Commission.
The peacekeeping mission was to conclude after completion of the delimitation-demarcation procedure of the border. Both parties further pledged to undertake demining operations so as to establish conducive environment for the establishment of the Peacekeeping Mission, readmission of civil administration and determination and demarcation of their shared border.
The Peacekeeping Mission together with the United Nations Mine Action Service would support efforts by the Parties in demining through technical advice and coordination.
The mission was to be deployed in three phases: the first phase was that of sending liaison officers to each capital, second marked by deployment of up to one hundred military observers plus necessary civilian support staff and finally full peace keeping once approved by the Security Council.
In the end, these peace efforts produced a comprehensive Peace Agreement signed by Ethiopia and Eritrea in December 2000 that pointed out the responsibility of both parties to put an end, once and for all times, to military hostilities between them and make sure not threaten each other with force or actually use it.
Challenges Faced by the Security Council: The struggle between Ethiopia and Eritrea has posed serious difficulties for the United Nations Security Council. The conflict has taken a dire humanitarian and security dimension attracting various interventions by the Security Council to address the disturbing human rights and humanitarian situation in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray. However, the Security Council has encountered hurdles in effectively dealing with the situation.
On occasions, certain member states like Russia, China, India, Kenya, Niger, Tunisia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have attempted to stall deliberations on the conflict by opposing public dialogue about it.
Communication issues and internet shutdowns, attacks on or blocking of medical assistance, famine caused by conflict and particularly sexual violence linked to warfare were by their nature regional or cross-border dimensions that had to be dealt with by the Security Council.
More so, the situation is further complicated by the involvement of Eritrean forces in the conflict.
Efforts to mitigate the conflict have been hampered by the failure to come up with a binding agreement within the Security Council regarding whether or not the body should issue statements and take concrete actions. The stalled progress of the crisis has been due to the inability of the council to move its discussions beyond humanitarian situation and condemn continuing abuses in Tigray.
In addition, it is feared that the situation evoked paralysis and underlined the need of more vigorous and coordinated response by Security Council.
In conclusion, the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea has proved to be a very difficult situation for the United Nations Security Council with difficulties caused by unwillingness of member states to support public engagement on the issue as well as complexity of this conflict which involves various aspects like human rights violations, regional consequences and Language barrio.
The Impact of Peacekeeping on the Conflict: Peacekeeping has major effects on the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. 2018, the two countries signed a peace treaty to end almost time span of a “frozen war”. The accord was met with great enthusiasm in both nations as well as internationally. The peace deal has resulted in warming of relations and tectonic movements in the Horn of Africa. It has also helped resolve old regional tensions and restore diplomatic contacts between Eritrea with other neighboring countries like Djibouti and Somalia.
However, the ultimate results are far from assured and the peace has mostly remained at elite political levels. The peace deal as far as its influence on political and economic development of Ethiopia remains to be observed, and the peace has not yet stabilized the situation in the Horn of Africa.
Furthermore, the peace deal has also resulted into a rather fragile relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea as both countries have had to cope with internal political challenges that held back their otherwise quick advances in their relationship. The peace deal has resolved some of the issues and disputes between the two countries, but not all grievances have been fully addressed and there is fear that people will start fighting again. So, even though the peace agreement has had a few beneficial outcomes there is still uncertainty as to the long term sustainability of peace in that particular region.
2018 peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea had profound positive consequences for resolving the conflict. Nevertheless, peacekeeping activities’ long-term effectiveness can depend on a number of factors, and the situation may have changed over time. Here are some potential impacts of peacekeeping on the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict:
End to Hostilities: The peace agreement had an immediate effect on halting the hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The agreement signaled the end of a long and nasty war that had led to high human and material losses.
Border Demarcation: Delimitation and demarcation of the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea were key components of the peace agreement. The border dispute was one of the main causes of tension, and the attempts to clearly define boundaries were meant to avoid similar confrontations associated with territorial questions.
Withdrawal of Troops: Both countries agreed pulling out their troops from the border areas, which helped in decreasing military tensions. The withdrawal was to be a buffer zone that would help cut down risks of accidental engagement.
Regional Stability: The peace agreement in Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict had far greater effects of regional stability. It helped to have a more peaceful Horn of Africa region and better relations between neighboring countries. The peace agreement was viewed as a positive development for the entire East African region.
Economic Opportunities: With the normalization of relations, there were possibilities of economic cooperation and progress. Some of the routes taken by the two nations to strengthen their economic ties included cross-border trade, investment, and joint infrastructure projects.
What needs to be kept in mind is that maintaining peace is a dynamic process, and issues may surface while trying to implement peace agreements. Further, there are regional developments that have taken place since the last update which happened in January 2022. It is recommended to refer to the recent sources to get updated on the situation with Ethiopia-Eritrea relations and peacekeeping initiatives aimed at dealing with this conflict.
Conclusion: The Future of Ethiopian-Eritrean Relations: The relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia are historically tense, and they have undergone major changes in their recent history. 1 Right now, there are indications of some potential tension because Ethiopia has been gathering forces near Eritrean border, with the threat of another war becoming real. This follows the apparent substantial peace agreement that was signed in 2018 to formally put an end to their border conflict. Still, the situation remains tense and control of the Assab port that serves for both countries is one of the unresolved issues 4. Therefore, the future of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea is still a matter of uncertainties and discussion.
Reference:
https://peacekeeping.un.org/ar/mission/past/unmee/background.html
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2009/10/security-council-ends-mission-ethiopia-eritrea
https://www.refworld.org/docid/489970c91e.html