Network of Eritreans for Constitutional Governance (NECG)

AU demands immediate withdrawal of Eritrea from Djibouti

01 July 2008, Sharm el-Sheik (Egypt) The African Union Commission’s Peace and Security Council on Tuesday demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Djibouti territory.

The council said it “strongly condemns Eritrea’s military action against Djibouti in Ras Doumeira and Doumeira Island and demands that Eritrea withdraws immediately and unconditionally from the Djiboutian territories it occupies.\"

The council called for the immediate return to the situation prevailing at the common border between the two countries before the current tension, including the withdrawal from the border of all forces that have been positioned there since 4 February 2008.

24 June - 1 July 2008- 11th Summit of the AU , Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt Eritrea tyrant Isaias Afewerki is not attending the summit.

The council also urged the two countries, in particular Eritrea, to show restraint and resort to dialogue to resolve any bilateral dispute and cooperate with all efforts deployed to this effect.

Recently, the council sent a mission to the two countries but the mission was able to visit only Djibouti while Eritrea refused the mission access to its territory without giving any official reason.

\"The council expressed deep concern at the refusal by the Eritrean authorities to receive the mission of the commission and strongly urges them to extend full cooperation to the efforts deployed by the AU towards the peaceful resolution of the crisis,\" the council said.

So far, over 10 soldiers from the Djibouti side are reported to have been killed and over 60 injured.

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