UN is responsible for any war between Ethiopia and Eritrea

By Ibrahim Ibrahim

February 2008 — To the amusements of the peace loving and rule abiding people of the world what is happening in Eritrea and Ethiopia is a good example of the double standards of the UNSC.

After the failed attack by the minority regime in Ethiopia against sovereign nation of Eritrea, the two neighboring countries have reached an agreement to cease the war and to rely on the rule of law. That agreement was signed under the guarantors of the agreement, the UN, AU and EU. A high hope for lasting peace was echoed by many at the time. At the establishment of UNMEE a high hope flourished despite the obstacle that emerged from Ethiopia, during and after the initiation of the court, which its ruling was final and binding.

At the time of the UNMEE’s flow in to take over its responsibility the then head of the mission Mr. Legwala once said, “this mission will be a success and can be a great example to the world, referring to the rule of law can be a means of achieving lasting peace than trying to impose throw war.”

Once the EEBC the legal body, represented by both countries Eritrea and Ethiopia established its work and ruled its verdict, Ethiopia at the beginning accepted the ruling then changed its mind to reject it and then to accept in principle attached to conditions. The so called guarantors led by USA’s influence did not take the measures agreed. That is to pressure Ethiopia.

UNSC, instead of taking punitive measure against the lawless government of Ethiopia, became lenient at the price of the tens of thousands of Internally Displaced Eritrean caused by the war, and above all at the cost of the sovereign nation of Eritrea.

Ethiopia since then not only stayed in the illegally occupied land of Eritrea, but also failed to fulfill all of its requirements and obligations toward the EEBC. EEBC patiently tried to accommodate concerns raised by Ethiopia within its legal sphere; unfortunately the same body that Ethiopia itself had hand on its creation does not shy to call it illegal.

EEBC had left with no option, but to demarcate the border virtually and hand over the document to UN Cartography department. With these it was expected that the UNSC to cast its responsibility and force Ethiopia to abort its illegal occupation of sovereign land of Eritrea. Instead UNSC took irresponsible measures that engulf and complicate the case.

Understandably, and without any question Eritrea had to take all necessary measures that include reminding the parties that have either forget or do not want to accept the burden of their responsibility.

It is worthy to remind that the roll of the UNMEE was linked to the demarcation of the border. Although due to the irresponsible failed measure of the UNSC Ethiopia have yet to be forced to abide by the rule of law, legally the border has been demarcated, and with that UNMEE has to cease its task. UNSC though have to force Ethiopia to vacate immediately, to avert of becoming the reason for another deadly war.

* The author is the Former Bank of Eritrea Administrator currently resides in United States of America. He can be reached at [email protected]