Ray

Officer of Engineers

A pox on all their houses.

__________________
Chimo

Ray

Former Italian colony, then British mandate, Eritrea became autonomous unit federated with Ethiopia 1950 in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 390. Federation with Ethiopia brought shift in economic and political power from Asmara to Addis Ababa and steady impoverishment. Ethiopia’s 1962 illegal annexation of Eritrea sparked full-blown Eritrean insurgency, though differences within Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) initially rendered insurgency ineffectual. ELF split 1973 with creation of Eritrean People’s Liberation Forces (EPLF), provoking civil war within Eritrea until ELF defeat 1991.

Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie overthrown 1974 by military officers led by Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam. With Soviet backing Mengistu became head of state 1977, establishing Marxist dictatorship and securing large-scale Soviet support to fight off Somali invasion of Ethiopia’s southeastern Ogaden region. Both Mengistu’s regime and Ethiopia’s hold on Eritrea collapsed 1991 with Asmara falling to EPLF and Addis Ababa falling to EPLF allies, Tigrean People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), under Miles Zenawi.

New TPLF government Addis Ababa supported Eritrea’s independence following 1993 referendum. Initially close relationship between governing parties of two countries seriously deteriorated during 1990s with three main contributing factors: disagreements over ill-defined border (particularly around town of Badme), Eritrea’s introduction of its own currency (nakfa) November 1997, and tensions over use of Red Sea port of Assab, ceded by Ethiopia to Eritrea 1993, cutting Ethiopia off from sea.

Eritrea occupied Ethiopian-administered town of Badme May 1998 sparking war. Tens of thousands of Ethiopian refugees fled or were forced out of Eritrea. U.S.-Rwandan peace plan issued within days of commencement of hostilities rejected by Eritrea, which believed would lead to de facto recognition of Ethiopian sovereignty over Badme and environs. Another U.S. proposal placing moratorium on air-strikes accepted, though later violated by Ethiopia. Eritrean defences broken February 1999 and Ethopian air-strikes on Assab and Massawa resumed, leading Eritrea to accept Organisation of African Unity (OAU) peace document. By August 1999 both sides agreed to OAU deal in principle while disagreeing on technical arrangements for implementation. Hostilities resumed May 2000 with major Ethiopian advance, occupying significant portion of southwest Eritrea.

Interim peace agreement signed Algiers 18 June 2000 recognising Ethiopia’s military advantage and creating demilitarised 25 km Temporary Security Zone (TSZ). TSZ entirely within Eritrean territory, to be monitored by UN peacekeepers. UN Security Council resolution 1298 established UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), numbering over 4,000 troops, July 2000. Eritrean President Afworki and Ethiopian PM Meles reached final agreement Algiers December 2000 providing for delimitation then demarcation of border.

Ruling principally on basis of colonial treaties, Boundary Commission of five, composed of prominent judges, ruled Badme to be inside Eritrea April 2002. Commission clarified March 2003 that while Badme Plains was Ethiopian, Badme town Eritrean. Both sides initially accepted April 2002 decision, as required under Algiers agreement, though Ethiopia questioned process. Commission rejected Ethiopia’s request to take into account local situation, stating Algiers agreement did not allow for any decision to be reopened. Ethiopia warned of return to war without resolution of local issues.

Peace process remains stalled and demarcation of border yet to proceed. Both countries traded accusations of hostile intentions and occasional incursions in 2003-2004, and maintained volatile relations with UNMEE.

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