General News

US expresses grave concern over Ethiopia-Eritrea military clash

Date: Jun 15, 2016

The US has expressed “grave concern” about the border military clash between Ethiopia and Eritrea this week and has urged both countries to exercise restraint and engage in political dialogue.

State Department spokesperson John Kirby reminded both governments that they were party to the 2000 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement – which ended a very bloody two year border war between them – and that there could not be a military solution to their differences.

He said the clash between the two armies occurred on Sunday and Monday. In Addis Ababa the skirmish has only been reported on social media with no official confirmation.

In Eritrea the government issued a short statement accusing Ethiopia of attacking its troops on the border.

Tensions between the two countries remain high since the 1998-2000 war.

International arbitrators ruled in 2003 that Eritrea was the rightful owner of the border town of Badme over which the two armies had clashed. Ethiopia rejected the ruling.

There have been occasional outbursts of hostilities since then. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of aiding rebel groups and Somali militant group Al-Shabab to destabilize it, while Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of supporting Eritrean dissident groups and working with western powers to isolate it.

None of the clashes have been verified by both governments.

Ethiopians are concerned that the latest clash could return the two countries to full-scale warfare.

--ANA--

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