| Author (Person) | Boroda, Hamesso |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.9, No.42, 11.12.03, p17 |
| Publication Date | 11/12/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Hamesso Boroda Date: 11/12/03 THE possibility of a peace accord between the Sudanese government of General Omar Al Beshir and the rebel Southern Sudan People's Liberation Movement, led by Colonel John Garang, has revived hopes of settling other conflicts in the Horn of Africa. The EU is financing the Intergovernmental Authority for Development that is behind the peace talks, not only in Sudan but also in Somalia. The Union has also been a guarantor of the Algiers peace accord that ended the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea and led to a court ruling in The Hague on border demarcation. The ruling gave the contested Badme region and Adi Irob lands to Eritrea. More than 4,000 UN soldiers were stationed on the border between the two countries to ensure the ruling held. However, the Ethio-Eritrean border commission was unable to accomplish its task because the Ethiopian side reneged on the agreement. With war a possibility, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan named Canadian ex-foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy as envoy to the two countries. The EU Council of Ministers has called on both sides to adhere to UN Security Council Resolution 1507, demanding that all parties cooperate with the boundary commission. On 17 November, some 3,000 Eritreans demonstrated outside the Strasbourg Parliament, calling on MEPs to support measures against Ethiopia. Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has held talks with Eritrean President Isaias Afework emphasizing the EU's desire to reach a peaceful solution. The Union is also concerned about human rights violations. More journalists are held in prison in Eritrea than any other African country.
The European Commission's Humanitarian Office (ECHO) has made Uganda and Sudan the top of its priority list for 2004. The move is being taken as part of ECHO's policy of highlighting 'forgotten crises'. |
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| Countries / Regions | Africa |
