Ethio-Eritrea Conflict: In Search of Remedies for the Deadlock
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Date
2009-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea has brought a major setback to the peace and
security of the two countries with devastating impacts against the wider Horn of Africa.
Efforts made to bring the warring parties to a lasting solution have continued to fail. The
conflict is more deeply rooted and complex than a simple territorial issue. In the process,
the mediator's efforts including the Algiers agreement have failed to resolve the crisis
because of lack of proper understanding of the root causes of the conflict. This has led
both countries to remain in 'no war and no peace' situation, with the potential for
destabilizing each other.
As is often said, 'knowing the problem is half way to the solution', the key to the whole
effort in resolving the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict is to be found in deeper analysis of why
the previous efforts had fai led and thoughtful inquiry of critical factors that lie beyond the
superficial causes of the conflict. Having a clear understanding of the root cause of the
conflict is very important to make an assessment of the attempts made so far have helped
to end the hostility or they have just perpetuated it. To this effect, this study identified
political and historical factors as a subsidiary causes while territorial disagreement has
been a pretext. It argued that the economic issues and the conception of military
invincibility were comparatively the cardinal causes of the conflict.
Finally, the research concludes that the way out from the current deadlock depends on the
legal and political options. But both these options did not have common ground and lack
the critical element of a win-win approach that can reconcile both parties' respective
national interests. Even though the issue still remains largely as a legal case, its final and
sustainable solution depends on comprehensive political dialogue and concerns.
Therefore, the thesis finally proposed the need to undel1ake a series of mutual interest
based negotiations and the initiative along with committed political dialogue and
demarcation as a creative approach to end the current stalemate .
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Ethio-Eritrea Conflict