Thu, 09:38 25 Sep 2008 GMT17

 
Eritrea-Ethiopia border

Last reviewed: 06-03-2008

TENSIONS SIMMER OVER DISPUTED BORDER


Several years after Ethiopia and Eritrea ended a conflict that killed more than 70,000 people and displaced 1.4 million, the two countries continue to disagree over the demarcation of their shared border.
  • More than 70,000 killed in 1998-2000 war
  • Nearly 110,000 still displaced
  • Landmines thwart people's return

Since a 2000 ceasefire, U.N. peacekeepers have policed the buffer zone between the two Horn of Africa neighbours, although their work has been hindered by what the U.N. Security Council has called "systematic violations" of its resolutions by Eritrea.

The dispute over the border centres on which side should control the dusty town of Badme. An independent commission awarded Badme to Eritrea in 2002, but Ethiopia did not implement the decision.

In November 2007, the commission demarcated the line by map coordinates in a ruling that Eritrea accepted but Ethiopia rejected.

The United Nations has warned that the border stalemate threatens regional security, and could trigger renewed conflict.

Those displaced by the war are still suffering the fallout, as thousands of landmines laid by both armies have prevented people returning home and growing food.

KEY FACTS


1998-2000 BORDER WAR
Number killed More than 70,000
Number displaced during war Eritrea - 1 million, Ethiopia - 360,000
(Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre - IDMC)
No. still displaced Eritrea: 40,000-45,000 (IDMC, June 2006)
Ethiopia: 62,000 (IDMC, April 2006)
Number of landmines laid 240,000 by Eritrean forces,
150,000-200,000 by Ethiopian forces (Landmine Monitor)
BORDER
Total length 1,000 km (620 miles)
Width of buffer zone 25 km (15 miles)
No. of U.N. military personnel 1,700

Unlike some other content on this website, the written content in this article may be republished or redistributed by any means free of charge. Any use of photographs and graphics on this website is expressly prohibited. You must check whether written content contained in other articles on this website may be republished or redistributed without the express permission of Reuters or the relevant third party provider.

Related articles

Breaking stories
Africa ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: Urgent need for dialogue after departure of UNMEE, says analyst

Africa FACTBOX-Key facts on Ethiopia and Eritrea

AlertNet insight
Americas Climate change and conflicts: Is there a link at all?

Blogs
Europe BOOK CHAT: What have you read lately?

Maps
Africa MAP: Ethiopia Food Security Update, August 2008


AlertNet for journalists

AlertNet for journalists is a set of tools and services designed to make life easier for reporters, fact-checkers and editors when covering humanitarian emergencies.

* Denotes mandatory entry      Rate this item *  
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5


Name: *     Email: * 
I am: *     


Comments:


Enter the code shown on on the left *




URL: http://www.alertnet.org/db/crisisprofiles/EE_BOR.htm

For our full disclaimer and copyright information please visit http://www.alertnet.org