Ethio Sudanese Relations: 1991-2001
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Date
2002-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The thesis has discussed the issues involved in, and identified the relevant factors
impacting upon, the Ehtiopian Sudanese relations. The relations of these neighbouring
countries have been fluctuating between harmony and conflict. These fluctuations witnessed three different phases of the relations since 1991. There are two primary reasons for establishing friendly relations between the present governments of the two countries immediately after the change of government in Ethiopia. Firstly, the previous friendly relations between Bashir's regime in Sudan and the Ehtiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) had facilitated the ground to conclude different bilateral agreements regarding the strengthening of their relations. Secondly, the existence of compatible national interests expressed in their foreign policies, with respect to the maintenance of national security, and economic cooperation motivated the two governments to establish friendly relations. On the basis of these common political and economic interests, opposition movements operating against one regime were expelled from the territory of the other immediately after the commencement of the formal relations between the two governments. Moreover, bilateral agreements for economic cooperations were concluded between them at various times.
Ethiopia and Sudan were in a state of conflict between 1995 and 1998. The main
sources of the conflict include the involvement of Sudan to spread political Islam in the
Ethiopian territory, competition between the two countries to assert regional leadership, longstanding suspicion and mistrust arising from their unresolved boundary problem and the BlueNile water utilization issues. Besides, the attempt to externalize internal problems and the
interference of one in the internal affairs of the other by extending support to opposition
movements contributed to the deterioration of the relations of the two countries. Sudan was
implicated for the terrorist activities that took place in Ethiopia, and this resulted in the
imposition of sanction against the former, on Ethiopia's petition, by the Security Council of the United Nations. The main objective of Sudanese involvement in supporting terrorist groups operating in and around the Ethiopian territory is to weaken Ethiopia and to dominate the politics of the Horn.
Although Ethiopia and Sudan agree on the validity of the 1902 and 1907 boundary
treaties, the boundary demarcation issue has not been still resolved. This pending issue was
affecting the relations between the two countries. The question of the utilization of the waters
of the Nile tributaries originating from Ethiopia has been the most important issue in
determining the long-term relations of Ethiopia and Sudan. This is due to conflict of interests
and the involvement of power politics strongly influenced by Egypt's anti-Ethiopia policy.
The issue of the Blue Nile water utilization has been the potential source of conflict because of the absence of any accord involving all the riparian states relating to its apportionment.
Moreover, the influence of neighbouring countries and great powers was affecting the
relations of Ethiopia and Sudan. However, regardless of the state of conflict that prevailed between 1995 and1998, their relations have been cordial since the middle of 1998.
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International Relation