UNMEE
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea

UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea is withdrawn

On 30 July 2008, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1827 terminating the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) with effect from the following day. The Council decision came in response to crippling restrictions imposed by Eritrea on UNMEE, as well as the cutting off of fuel supplies – making it impossible for the operation to continue carrying out its mandated tasks, and putting at risk the safety and security of UN personnel.

At the same time, the Security Council called on Ethiopia and Eritrea "to show maximum restraint and refrain from any threat or use of force against each other and to avoid provocative military activities".

UNMEE Mandate

Wide-view of a Security Council
Security Council Extends UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. UN Photo/Eric Kanalstein

According to Security Council resolution 1320 (2000) of 15 September 2000, UNMEE has the following mandate:

  • Monitor the cessation of hostilities;
  • Assist in ensuring the observance of the security commitments agreed by the parties;
  • Monitor and verify the redeployment of Ethiopian forces from positions taken after 6 February 1999, which were not under Ethiopian administration before 6 May 1998;
  • Monitor the positions of Ethiopian forces once redeployed;
  • Simultaneously, monitor the positions of Eritrean forces that are to redeploy in order to remain at a distance of 25 kilometres from positions to which Ethiopian forces shall redeploy;
  • Monitor the temporary security zone (TSZ) to assist in ensuring compliance with the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities;
  • Chair the Military Coordination Commission (MCC) to be established by the United Nations and OAU in accordance with the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities;
  • Coordinate and provide technical assistance for humanitarian mine-action activities in the TSZ and areas adjacent to it; and
  • Coordinate the Mission's activities in the TSZ and areas adjacent to it with humanitarian and human rights activities of the United Nations and other organizations in those areas.

The Security Council emphasized that the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities linked the termination of the United Nations peacekeeping mission with the completion of the process of delimitation and demarcation of the Ethiopian-Eritrean border.

By its resolution 1430 (2002) of 14 August 2002, the Security Council adjusted the mandate of UNMEE in order to assist the Boundary Commission in the expeditious and orderly implementation of its Delimitation Decision, to include:

  • demining in key areas to suport demarcation, and
  • administrative and logistical support for the Field Offices of the Boundary Commission

in accordance with the recommendations provided by the Secretary-General in his report of 10 July 2002 (S/2002/744) and Security Council resolution 1398 (2002).

Last updated:
Share