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Djibouti / Eritrea
Historical Chronology
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Revised on 1 October 2008
Click here to return to the index of Security Council Report's publications on Djibouti/Eritrea
| 17 September 2008 |
The Council was briefed on the border dispute between Ethiopia and Djibouti, and discussed the report of the fact-finding mission that visited the region from 28 July to 6 August (S/2008/602). |
| 25 June 2008 |
The Council issued a press statement requesting that a fact-finding mission be sent to the region (SC/9376).
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24 June 2008
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The Council held a debate on Djibouti-Eritrea under agenda item "Peace and Security in Africa". During the meeting, the representative from Djibouti stated that Eritrean troops were continuing their incursion, while Eritrea denied those accusations (S/PV.5924).
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16 June 2008
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France sent three ships to Djibouti (reportedly to assist with medical care, logistics and intelligence).
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14 June 2008
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The East African regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) also expressed serious concern over Eritrea’s “military attack”.
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12 June 2008
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The Council issued a statement expressing strong concern about the 10 June incidents and condemning “Eritrea’s military action against Djibouti.” The statement also called upon the parties to commit to a ceasefire and urged both parties, “in particular Eritrea,” to show maximum restraint, withdraw to the status quo ante and engage in diplomatic efforts consistent with international law. It encouraged the Secretary-General to use his good offices in coordination with regional efforts. The Arab League reportedly called for Eritrean withdrawal, urging that country to respect the common border and calling for efforts to settle the issue. Eritrea called the statement “biased” and “unbalanced,” saying that it “does not reflect the realities and facts on the ground.” The US also issued a statement condemning Eritrea’s “military aggression,” calling on both sides to cease hostilities and on Eritrea to accept third-party mediation. Eritrea rejected the US statement.
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10 June 2008
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Fighting between Djibouti and Eritrean troops erupted.
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5 May 2008
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Djibouti sent a letter to the Council expressing concern about a build-up of Eritrean troops along the common border. Recalling previous tensions in 1996 over border issues, the letter contained a timeline of the build-up starting in February up until April 2008, when Djibouti President Ismael Omar Guelleh advised of Eritrean occupation of the Ras-Doumeira border area.
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4 May 2008
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The Arab League’s Peace and Security Council reaffirmed the need for respect for the unity and territorial integrity of states, calling for the peaceful settlement of the problem, and soliciting a mission of the League’s Secretary-General to assess the situation and coordinate an “Arab-African” response to the crisis.
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2 May 2008
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The AU Peace and Security Council adopted a statement urging both countries to show restraint and resolve any disputes through dialogue, and noting that the AU Commission had formally written to the parties to receive their views on the issue.
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