U.N. Security Council calls for peaceful resolution of Eritrea, Djibouti border spat

A Djiboutian soldier, left, and an Eritrean soldier at a wall denoting the battle line in the border dispute near the Red Sea. Opposing troops are within feet or inches of each other. Credit Jehad Nga for The New York Times (2008)

ESAT News (June 20, 2017)

The U.N. Security Council called on Eritrea and Djibouti to resolve their border dispute in line with international laws.

The Security Council also backs the decision by the African Union to send a fact finding mission to the two countries.

The Council called “on the parties to resolve their border dispute peacefully in a manner consistent with international law,” said Bolivian Ambassador Sacha Llorenty, Council president for this month.

Llorenty told the press that the Council would also “welcome the consideration of future confidence-building measures.”

Tensions between the two countries were high after the withdrawal last week of Qatari forces from the buffer zone in the disputed territory. Djibouti accuses Eritrea of occupying Ras Doumeira, the flash point of the border crisis between the two neighboring countries.

A pullout by Qatari forces last week from a disputed border area between Eritrea and Djibouti is feared to have revived a border conflict between the two countries.

The move came amid accusations by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain that Qatar funds and supports terrorist groups including ISIS.

The Gulf states imposes political and economic sanctions against Qatar. Several African and Arab states, including Eritrea and Djibouti, have joined the Gulf states. Qatar is believed to have withdrawn its forces in response to that decision by Eritrea and Djibouti.