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United Nations Office in Ethiopia and Eritrea
	UN soldiers in Eritrea. Photo by Dawit Rezenè
Org type	Peacekeeping Mission
Acronyms	UNMEE
Head	Azouz Ennifar
Status	Completed
Established	31 July 2000
Website	http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmee/index.html
Parent org	United Nations Security Council

The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) was established in July 2000^[1] to monitor a ceasefire in the border war that began in 1998 between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The mission was formally abandoned in July 2008^[2] after experiencing serious difficulties in sustaining its troops after fuel stoppages^[3] and the consideration of remaining options.^[4]

[edit] History

The mission was in place in order to formally mark the border between the two countries. The border followed the route as declared by an international commission in The Hague but Ethiopia refused to accept the ruling, despite originally agreeing to binding arbitration.^{[citation needed]}

The mission has its headquarters in Asmara (Eritrea), and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and remains in place, with 1,676 military personnel, whilst tensions between the two countries remain high. About 1,500 of these peacekeepers are from the Indian Army. In addition, there are about 147 international civilians, 202 local civilians and 67 UN Volunteers. Their area of responsibility is a buffer zone 25 kilometers (15 miles) wide on the Eritrean side of the Ethiopian-Eritrean border. So far, there have been recorded 20 fatalities: 13 military personnel, 3 international civilian personnel and 4 local civilian personnel. The approved budget for the mission between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008 is of $118.99 million.^{[citation needed]}

The border between Ethiopia and Eritrea remains closed and thousands of people live in refugee camps while perhaps a million people remain displaced. In October 2005, the Eritrean government restricted UNMEE helicopter flights along the border and demanded the reduction of the UNMEE force by 300 staffers. Eritrea is also restricting movement of ground patrols inside the buffer zone. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1640 in November 2005 threatened sanctions on both parties if there was no resolution.

The mission was ended per 31 July 2008 with a UNSC resolution adopted on 30 July 2008. Peacekeepers had been driven from the border zone by Eritrea by February 2008, and Ethiopia had refused to accept a binding International Court of Justice ruling on the border issue; there are fears that this may set a precedent to show that a country can force out UN peacekeepers. Analysts also fear a new war may erupt between Ethiopia and Eritrea over the border.^[5] Eritrea has tried to allay fears over a new war.^[6]

[edit] Staff and forces

On 30 November 2007, UNMEE had a total of 1,676 military personnel, including 1,464 troops and 212 military observers, supported by 147 international civilians, 202 local civilians and 67 UN Volunteers.

Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of Mission:Azouz Ennifar ( Tunisia)
Deputy Special Representatives:
Force Commander: Major-General Mohammad Taisir Masadeh ( Jordan)