January 10, 2008: The Ethiopia-Eritrea
border region remains tense. A firefight in late December 2007 put troops on
both sides of the border on alert. While this seems like old news, it is still
bad news. Though there is little likelihood of renewed combat between Ethiopia
and Eritrea –at least in the near future— post-election ethnic strife in Kenya
has shaken the region. Kenya was supposed to be "the stable country" in the
area. It is possible that Kenya's troubles will force the hotheads in Eritrea
and Ethiopia to take a deep breath.
December 28, 2007: The Ethiopian
government claimed that unit in the Ethiopian Army had "annihilated" a rebel band belonging to the Ogaden National
Liberation Front (ONLF). The statement said that the army had captured over 100
AK-47 automatic rifles.
December 27, 2007: Eritrea accused
Ethiopia of launching an attack on Eritrean forces along the Eritrea-Ethiopia
border. The alleged attack occurred in the South Tsorona area. Ethiopia denied
the claim. However, an Ethiopian government spokesman said that two recon teams
(Ethiopian and Eritrean) may have had "an accidental encounter" in the area.
December 25, 2007: Ethiopia claims that
600 people a month are fleeing Eritrea for sanctuary in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian
claim follows reports that the Eritrean government is cracking down on
outspoken political opposition groups. The Eritrean Peoples Democratic Front
(an opposition organization) has claimed that the situation within Eritrea is
increasingly desperate.
December 24, 2007: One year ago today
Ethiopia launched its long-anticipated attack on the Islamic Courts militia in
Somalia. In the opening hours of the offensive, Ethiopian Air Force planes
struck a number of targets near the Ethiopia-Somalia border and Islamist
militia positions between the border and Mogadishu.
