Security Council considers action in Eritrea Djibouti dispute

October 24, 2008 (UNITED NATIONS) — The United Nations Security Council is considering to put more pressure on Eritrea to avoid a renewal of fighting in the Horn of Africa between Asmara and its neighbor Djibouti.

Djibouti accused neighbouring Eritrea of moving troops across the border in June, triggering several days of fighting that killed a dozen Djiboutian troops and wounded dozens. Eritrea denies making any incursions.

The long-running border row between Djibouti and Eritrea over the disputed Ras Doumeira promontory on the shores of the Red Sea flared up last June after previous clashes in 1996 and 1999.

The president of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, told the 15-nation council on Thursday that there could be war if it did not get involved and help resolve its dispute with Eritrea.

Inaction by the council “would not only encourage but would actually reward the attitude of Eritrea,” he said. “This gives my country only one option — the option of war.” He said.

Yesterday, US Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad said Asmara had defied the world community by attacking its smaller neighbor last June “in a violent confrontation that left 44 Djiboutian soldiers dead and many more missing.”

The council should ask U.N. Secretary-General to immediately send a high-level envoy to mediate in the crisis, as recommended in a report on the U.N. probe of the June clashes.

The council would most likely make this request in a strongly worded statement aimed at ratcheting up the pressure on Eritrea to accept international mediation to resolve the crisis, diplomats said.

Last month the U.N. Security Council rebuked Eritrea for refusing to cooperate with a U.N. investigation of the June clashes with Djibouti.

(ST)