UN Security Council mission to travel to Ethiopia and Eritrea

Representatives of all 15 Member States of the UN Security Council will travel to Ethiopia and Eritrea later this month to inspect the work of the UN peacekeeping mission there and to discuss the situation with the two governments.

The Council mission, which will take place from 20 to 25 February, will visit the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, as well as the capital of Eritrea, Asmara.

Council members will also travel to the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) established by the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) in April 2001 as a buffer between the two countries’ armed forces. Currently UNMEE has nearly 4,000 troops stationed in the security zone. The mission reports that the situation in the TSZ remains calm and stable.

The Security Council mission was announced in a letter from the Council President made public today. It will be led by Ambassador Ole Peter Kolby of Norway.