Eritrea: Somali crisis entangles Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute

(SomaliNet) Analysts say tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea could further worsen due to the Somali crisis in the countdown to a November deadline, set by an independent boundary commission, for both sides to demarcate their border.

Ethiopia and Eritrea’s involvement in Somalia has added a dangerous new element to their already tense relationship and faded hopes they may resolve a border dispute seen as vital for regional stability.

"The tragedy is that it’s gone well beyond the confines of the border dispute," said Patrick Smith, editor of the Africa Confidential newsletter."It’s now to a point where there can be no amelioration on the border issue until there is some resolution in Somalia," he said by telephone from England.

The neighbours have been locked in a bitter impasse over the border since the Hague-based commission issued its ruling on the 1,000 km (620 mile) frontier in April 2002, as part of a peace deal ending Ethiopia and Eritrea’s 1998-2000 war.

The border ruling awarded a flashpoint town of Badme to Eritrea in a decision rejected by Ethiopia.Diplomats accuse both sides of playing out their feud by supporting opposing parties in Somalia, saying the proxy conflict exacerbates the border row now in its fifth year.

Somalia and Ethiopia have accused Eritrea of undermining the interim Somali government by supplying weapons to insurgents involved in some of the worst fighting in Mogadishu for more than 15 years.

Asmara vehemently denies allegations it is funnelling arms to anti-government forces in Somalia and accuses Ethiopia of breaking international law by "invading" Somalia and interfering with the country’s right to chose its own leaders.-(Sudan Tribune)