Ethiopia-Eritrea, from war to peace : the role of the international community in the conflict

Treball de Fi de Grau en Dret. Curs 2019-2020Tutor: Santiago Ripol i CarullaIn 1998 a war started in the horn of Africa. Eritrea and Ethiopia, two countries with a shared history and close relationship, initiated a military conflict over the control of the city of Badme, which is an important strategic point for commerce and economic development. The sovereignty of this place had not been clearly defined by the colonial treaties that stablished the borders of the different regions and the governments of both countries adopted opposed delimitations. Furthermore, nor Eritrea nor Ethiopia submitted their differences to the International Court of Justice, contrary to other African countries that managed to peacefully solve their border differences. Once the War started, the International Community rapidly activated different mechanisms, both in the Security Council and in the Organisation of African Unity, to facilitate the end of hostilities. Moreover, some States mediated between both parts. Therefore, International Public Law and Humanitarian Law played a remarkable role in this conflict, as resolutions were passed in the Security Council; a United Nations’ military mission was deployed in the border; the Organisation of African Unity stablished a “Framework” agreement; and, after all, both countries decided to submit their differences to international arbitration processes