United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea

United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
United Nations Office in Ethiopia and Eritrea

Dutch UN soldiers on camel in Eritrea
Abbreviation UNMEE
Formation 31 July 2000
Type Peacekeeping Mission
Legal status Completed
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.

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.

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.

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.[6] Eritrea has, however, tried to allay fears over a new war.[7]

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
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
United Nations Office in Ethiopia and Eritrea

The medal for UNMEE
Abbreviation UNMEE
Type Peacekeeping Mission

See also

References

Eritrea
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  1. ↑ United Nations Security Council Resolution 1312. S/RES/1312(2000) 31 July 2000. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  2. ↑ United Nations Security Council Resolution 1827. S/RES/1827(2008) 30 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  3. ↑ United Nations Security Council Document 145. Special report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea S/2008/145 3 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  4. ↑ United Nations Security Council Document 226. Special report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea S/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. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Eritrea allays fears over new war". BBC News. 31 July 2008.
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