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Ethiopia/ Eritrea
Border Dispute
Presentation: Chief
Directorate East Africa
Background to the border dispute
• In 1998 war commenced between Ethiopia and Eritrea over the
border, the town of Badme was a contentious issue.
• More than 80 000 people died during the 3 year war.
• The war ended in 2000 with the signing of the Algiers Agreement.
• The Agreement made provision for the Ethiopia - Eritrea Boundary
Commission (EEBC) to be established.
• Both countries agreed to accept the Boundary Commission’s
findings as “final and binding”
• On 13 April 2002, the EEBC presented their findings and allotted
Badme to Eritrea.
• Ethiopia has called for the negotiations to be reopened whilst
Eritrea wants to EEBC decision to be implemented without delay.
Ethiopia – Eritrea border impasse
• The border impasse continues between Ethiopia and
Eritrea
• Situation of “no war, no peace”.
• On 4 October 2005, Eritrea imposed a ban on UNMEE
flights over Eritrean airspace.
• On 23 November 2005, resolution passed allowing for
sanctions to be implemented.
• On 7 December 2005, Eritrea expelled all UN
peacekeepers from the United States, the European Union,
Russia and Canada.
• UNMEE mandate extended to 30 September 2006
• In May 2006, the UNMEE’s was reduced to 2300 troops
Ethiopia – Eritrea Boundary Commission
• The third round of talks scheduled for 15 June 2006,
postponed till 24 August 2006.
• Eritrea failed to attend because they believe the Boundary
Commission’s decision should be bounding.
• The 37th meeting of the Military Coordination Commission
(MCC) was held on 30 July 2006, in Nairobi, Kenya.
• The Officer-in-Charge of the UNMEE expressed hope for
the speedy resolve of the impasse.
• Both Ethiopia and Eritrea raised concern over the cut in
UNMEE personnel.
• Eritrea called for increased international involvement in
resolving the impasse.
Recent developments
• On 8 August 2006, Ethiopian Brigadier General Kemal
Geltu, defected to Eritrea with 150 troops.
• Ongoing defections with both Ethiopia and Eritrea
sponsoring opposition movements in Asmara and Addis
Ababa respectively.
• Eritrea reintroduced travel restrictions on 1 June 2006,
including diplomats.
• Allegations that Eritrea has been supporting the Supreme
Islamic Courts in Somalia
• Ethiopia supporting the Transitional Federal Government in
Somalia
• Eritrea involves as peace broker between Government of
Sudan and the Eastern Front Rebels
Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia
Brief Statistics
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Population:
GDP:
GDP per Capita:
GDP growth rate:
Inflation rate:
Military expenditure:
Hunan Development Index:
FDI:
74,777,981 (2006)
US$ 9 Billion (2005)
US$116
8.9% (2005)
11.6% (2005)
$295.9 million (2005)
Ranked 170th (2003)
US$ 545.1 million (2004)
Brief Statistics (continued)
• External Debt:
• Main export partners:
• Main import partners:
• Life Expectancy:
US$ 5.101 billion (2005)
Germany, Japan, Saudi
Arabia, Djibouti, Italy, USA
Saudi Arabia, USA,
UAE, India, Germany
49 years (2006)
Geography
• Area:
• Borders:
• Natural resources:
• Agricultural Products:
• Industries:
1,130,000 sq km
Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia,
Sudan
Small reserves of gold, platinum,
copper, potash, natural gas,
hydropower
Coffee, khat, leather, gold, oilseeds
and flowers.
food processing, beverages,
textiles, leather, chemicals,
metals processing, cement
Ethiopia: Introduction
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Capital:
Head of State:
Head of Government:
Form of State:
Official languages:
• Membership:
Addis Ababa
President Woldergiorgis
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
Federal State
Amharic, Oromiya, Tigrinya,
Arabic
AU (secretariat in Addis Ababa), IGAD,
Comesa
History and Background
• Only African nation never colonised
• Brief Italian occupation from 1936-1941.
• Emperor Haile Selassie dominated Ethiopian society from
1916-1974.
• The emperor was overthrown by the “Derg” regime, led by
Mengistu Haile Miriam.
• The “Derg” regime was toppled by Meles Zenawi’s
Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front in 1991.
• Eritrea seceded from Ethiopia in 1993
Recent Political Development
• Last parliamentary elections held on 15 May 2005
• The Ogaden National Liberation Front, Oromo Liberation Front and
the Sidama Liberation Front continue to seek autonomy from the
Federation.
• Border demarcation with Eritrea still outstanding.
• Oppression of political parties is rife.
• Ethiopian invasion of Somalia
Economy of Ethiopia
• Unemployment rate:
• Major industries:
• Major Exports:
• Major Imports:
25% to 30%
chemicals, metal, cement,
textiles, food processing.
coffee, gold, leather products,
oilseeds
food, petroleum, machinery,
motor vehicles.
Social Situation
• HIV/Aids poses major health challenge.
• The government has developed the National Response Strategic
Framework to combat HIV/AIDS.
• Food security remains a problem.
• The recent floods during August 2006 resulted in at least 626 deaths
across Ethiopia.
Bilateral Relations with South Africa
• General Co-operation Agreement between Ethiopia and South was
signed in March 2004.
• Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) to be established in terms of Cooperation Agreement.
• JMC senior officials meeting was held in Pretoria in May 2005.
• Exports from SA to Ethiopia: R149, 797 million (2005)
• Exports from Ethiopia to SA: R23, 370 million (2005)
• Ethiopia not being full member of the World Trade Organisation
poses a challenge to the finalisation of a trade agreement with South
Africa
South African Companies in Ethiopia
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Africon Ethiopia;
COMEZAR;
Plessey;
Bull Information Technology;
Global Technology (Pty) Ltd;
CSIR (Port Elizabeth);
South African Bottling Company (SABCO);
Ropack International;
Cortec (Pty) Ltd.
Way Forward
• South Africa should continue to engage Ethiopia within the
framework of the General Co-operation Agreement signed in 2004
• Launch of Joint Ministerial Commission planned for 2006
• Seek constructive ways of engaging the political leadership to
normalise relations with Eritrea.
State of
Eritrea
Presentation: Chief Directorate East
Africa
Brief Statistics
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Population:
Gross Domestic Product:
GDP per capita:
GDP growth rate:
Inflation rate:
Military Expenditure:
Human Development Index:
Foreign Direct Investment:
4,786,994 (2006)
US$ 924.6 million (2004)
$900 (2005)
2% (2005)
15% (2005)
US$ 220.1 million (2005)
Ranked 161th (2003)
US$ 30.0 million (2004)
Brief Statistics (continued)
• External Debt:
• Main export partners:
• Main import partners:
• Imports from South Africa:
• Exports to South Africa:
US$ 695 million
Sudan, Italy, Djibouti,
Germany
United Arab Emirates,
Saudi Arabia, Italy,
Germany
R 25 547 000 (2005)
R
485 000 (2005)
Geography
• Area:
• Borders:
• Natural Resources:
• Agricultural Products:
• Industries:
124 320 sq km
Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan
Oil, gas, fish and base
metals
Wheat, barley, maize,
millet, sorghum
Food processing,
beverages, clothing and
textiles, salt, cement,
commercial ship repair
Eritrea Introduction
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Capital:
Asmara
Head of State:
Isaias Afewerki
Form of State:
Unitary State
Currency:
Nakfa
Member of following organisations: United Nations, African
Union, IGAD, Cotonou Convention, COMESA and the
League of Arab States.
• The People’s Front for Democracy and Justice is the only
legal political party operating in the country.
History and Background
• 1998 border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea commenced.
• War ended in 2000 in which 70 000 people died.
• Despite the signing of the Algiers Agreement and the border
commission decision reached, the border impasse continues.
Economy of Eritrea
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Exports: 64.5 million (2005)
Imports: 662 Million (2005)
Agriculture sector employs 80% population
Privatization and free market is encouraged
Heavily dependent on Foreign Aid.
GDP per sector
Agriculture:
10.2%
Industry:
25.4%
Services:
64.3% (2005)
Social Situation
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Eritrea has nine ethnic groups.
Tigrinya and Arabic most frequently used languages
No tensions between Christians and Muslims.
HIV/Aids prevalence is about 2.87%
Technological Situation
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Internet access available in most parts of the country.
Railways and highways undergoing reconstruction.
Ports of Assab and Massawa operational.
Telephone system inadequate
Mobile cellular service available.
Bilateral Relations with South Africa
• Diplomatic relations established in 1995
• Late Minister Nzo visited Eritrea in 1998
• South Africa opened an Embassy in Asmara in October
2004
• 9 SANDF Officers currently deployed in Eritrea/Ethiopia as
part of UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).
• More than 1600 Eritrean students studying at South African
universities.
Way Forward
• South Africa should continue to support diplomatic efforts by the UN,
AU and EU aimed at to resolving the the border impasse.
• Continue to explore business opportunities
The End
Thank You