The United Nations mission monitoring the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea (Unmee) reported movements of troops on both sides of the border on Friday, despite an earlier order from the UN Security Council to pull back or face sanctions.
This is the second time in two weeks Unmee has reported troop movements in the area in violation of a UN resolution calling on both countries to redeploy troops to positions held a year ago within 40 days. That deadline expired on December 23.
Tensions over the border have risen in recent months with both countries deploying more troops to the area.
In a report earlier this week to the Security Council, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan described the situation as a ”dangerous stalemate” and threatened the complete withdrawal of the UN mission.
Annan cited Addis Ababa for refusing to comply with a binding 2002 border demarcation by the International Boundary Commission, and Eritrea for imposing restrictions on Unmee movements.
The Eritrean government has banned all UN helicopter flights within the temporary security zone — a 25km-wide buffer zone along the border inside Eritrea — and has placed restrictions on UN vehicle movements.
The UN secretary general is due to report back again to the Security Council before the end of January. — Sapa-DPA