February 12, 2008: Eritrea has refused
a UN request to supply fuel to UN peacekeeping monitors and peacekeeping forces
operating along the Eritrea-Ethiopia border. As a result, the peacekeepers will
move their supply operations to Ethiopia. Eritrea began restricting fuel
shipments to UN forces in 2006 and imposed a fuel supply ban in December 2007.
The Eritrean government has accused the UN of "favoring Ethiopia" and has
denied UN troops access to key areas of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ).
February 6, 2008: During 2007 over
10,000 Eritrean refugees fled to Sudan. One of the reasons the refugees gave
for leaving Eritrea was to escape "mandatory military service." The Eritreans
are in camps in eastern Sudan. The UN estimates that around ten percent of
Eritrea's population is in the military. Ethiopia, Eritrea's primary adversary,
has a much larger population. Eritrea relies on a "mobilized society" to
confront Ethiopia.
February 2, 2008: The government of
Eritrea condemned the UN for extending the mandate of UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE). Eritrea
claimed that the UN and international community were refusing to recognize
Ethiopia's responsibility for the continuing crisis. The border demarcation
commission gave Eritrea the disputed region around the town of Badme. Ethiopia
refused to accept the commissions binding decision.
January 30, 2008: The UN Security
Council extended the mandate for the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)
for another six months. At the moment the UN has 1700 peacekeepers serving with
UNMEE.
