The United Nations mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (Unmee), monitoring the disputed border between the two countries, reported on Thursday that the buffer zone along the border ”remained tense and potentially volatile”.
Recently imposed restrictions on Unmee’s activities have also ”considerably increased” during the week.
The restrictions imposed by the authorities in Asmara since early October banned UN helicopter flights over Eritrean territory and curtailed the movement of the mission’s vehicles after 6pm, reducing Unmee’s activities by up to 60%.
Gail Sainte, Unmee spokesperson and public information chief, said that no demining operations were carried out during the week as a result of the restrictions.
Unmee chief of staff Mohammed Iqbal told a weekly briefing that Ethiopian troops stationed about 15km to 20km from the border have increased military activity, which has been explained away as training exercises.
”Unmee’s concern is that these stepped-up activities by both sides could lead to renewed conflict in the light of the prevailing tense and potentially volatile situation in the mission area,” Iqbal said.
The movement of troops was reported earlier this week during a visit to both countries by Japanese ambassador Kenzo Oshima on a UN Security Council mission to evaluate the situation in the disputed border region.
A report to be submitted to the Security Council by Oshima would help the council decide what steps to take to resolve the stalemate in the Ethiopian-Eritrean peace process, according to informed sources. — Sapa-DPA