A UN report says regional and international security is being threatened by escalating tensions between Djibouti and Eritrea.
The UN recently deployed a fact-finding mission to the Horn of Africa region to investigate a June surge in violence that left more than 35 people dead.
The report stated that, “the violent stand-off between Djibouti and Eritrea, if left unchecked, could spill over into a wider regional conflict with potential international consequences”.
It also disclosed that “Eritrea is refusing to allow the UN fact-finding mission into the country”, which, it said, was also compounding the situation in the region.
It concluded that “while Djibouti has pulled its military out of the border region, Eritrea has not yet redeployed its troops, posing a threat of future violence’.
“If not addressed in a timely and comprehensive manner, the Djibouti-Eritrea issue could have a major negative impact on the entire region and the wider international community.”
“The possible destabilisation of Djibouti and the militarisation of the Babel-Mandeb Strait do not augur well for peace in the region or for international shipping and investment.
“Solutions must therefore be found as a matter of the utmost priority.”
