Eritrea-Arab League relations
Encyclopedia
Eritrea is one of the three non-Arab League
states that adopt Arabic as an official language, and is the closest to become an Arab League member, with Chad
and Israel
having numerous problems with the League.
on its northwestern borders, Djibouti
on the southeastern borders, and the Arabian Peninsula
across the Bab el Mandeb.
In 2003, Eritrea finally agreed on joining as an Observer, a country adopting Arabic language as a second Language, after a Presidential announcement that Eritrea will not be joining any regional organisation, he explained that the Arab League lacks efficiency.
, sent a letter to the Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa
, calling for the Arab League's pressure on removing the latest UN sanctions over the country. The sanctions were enforced after his country was accused of supporting insurgents in Somalia, and were enacted in the UNSC by 13 of the 15 members.
, in a dispute over the Hanish Islands
in 1996 resulted in a brief war, and clashes with Djibouti in 2008, over the Ras Doumeira region, where the Arab League held an emergency session in response to the fighting and called for Eritrea to withdraw from the border region.
Arab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
states that adopt Arabic as an official language, and is the closest to become an Arab League member, with Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
having numerous problems with the League.
Observer status
In 1993, after independence, Eritrea adopted a policy of getting in touch with the Arab states, a move that several intellects in the country were divided upon, some preferring to join the Arab League as an Observer, others calling for joining as a Member, while others called for not getting intouch with the country's mostly Arab perimeter, with SudanSudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
on its northwestern borders, Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
on the southeastern borders, and the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
across the Bab el Mandeb.
In 2003, Eritrea finally agreed on joining as an Observer, a country adopting Arabic language as a second Language, after a Presidential announcement that Eritrea will not be joining any regional organisation, he explained that the Arab League lacks efficiency.
Economic sanctions
In 2010, the Eritrean president Isaias AfewerkiIsaias Afewerki
Isaias Afewerki is the first and current President of Eritrea, attaining that status when he led the Eritrean People's Liberation Front to victory in May 1991, thus ending the 30-year old armed liberation struggle that the Eritrean people refer to as "Gedli".-Early life and rise to power:Afewerki...
, sent a letter to the Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa
Amr Moussa
Amr Mohammed Moussa is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the Secretary-General of the Arab League, a 22-member forum representing Arab states, from 1 June 2001 until 1 June 2011. He is a candidate in the 2011 Egyptian presidential election....
, calling for the Arab League's pressure on removing the latest UN sanctions over the country. The sanctions were enforced after his country was accused of supporting insurgents in Somalia, and were enacted in the UNSC by 13 of the 15 members.
Tensions
Eritrea has been in two wars with YemenYemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, in a dispute over the Hanish Islands
Hanish Islands
The Hanish Islands are an island group in the Red Sea. Most of them are a part of Yemen, but before 1998–1999 they were claimed by Eritrea as well. After a long trial with an international court under the guidance of Dr...
in 1996 resulted in a brief war, and clashes with Djibouti in 2008, over the Ras Doumeira region, where the Arab League held an emergency session in response to the fighting and called for Eritrea to withdraw from the border region.