World bodies concerned over Ethiopia-Eritrea clashes
June 15, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – The United States, United Nations and African Union have expressed concern over clashes between Ethiopia and Eritrea in a disputed border.
Rival forces of the two neighboring nations engaged in fighting between Sunday and Monday in the border town of Tsorena, sparking fears of a renewed full scale war.
The two nations have accused one another of provocation.
Ethiopia said Monday that its military took “proportional measures” in response to the Eritrean army’s attempted attack and that retaliatory measure taken by its forces “seriously weakened” the Eritrean army.
Eritrea, however, denied the accusations, saying it repulsed the attack with Ethiopian troops sustaining heavy causalities.
The latest clash is larger in scale since the two countries fought war in 1998-2000 over their disputed border area.
The international community is expressing concern over the growing tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The US voiced “grave concern” and called on both sides to exercise restraint and engage in political dialogue.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the US’s assistant secretary and department spokesperson, John Kirby urged the two arch rivals to cooperate in promoting stability and sustainable peace in the region.
“As both Ethiopia and Eritrea are party to the 2000 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and there cannot be a military solution, we call for both sides to exercise restraint and engage in political dialogue”, Kirby said in a statement.
Concerned by the latest development, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday met Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in Brussels and Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson phoned Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed, urging them to restraint and refrain from any act or statement that could exacerbate the situation, according to a UN statement.
The AU chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, equally expressed deep concern over the fiery weekend clashes.
She urged the two countries to exercise utmost restraint and to refrain from any statement and action likely to aggravate the situation and further endanger regional stability.
The AU chairperson said both nations could resolve their differences and lay foundation for lasting peace between them only through the recourse of peaceful means.
Although a peace deal signed in 2000 ended a civil war, terms of the accord are yet to be implemented as Addis Ababa demanded further talks on implementation process.
Ethiopia and Eritrea routinely exchange accusations backing rebels trying to topple their respective regimes.
(ST)