United Nations Security Council Resolution 1907
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1907, adopted on December 23, 2009, imposed an arms embargo
on Eritrea
, travel bans on its leaders, and froze the assets of some of the country's political and military officials as punishment for aiding anti-government rebels in Somalia
and refusing to withdraw troops from its disputed border with Djibouti
, following a conflict in 2008. The African Union
and other organisations had been calling on the Security Council
to sanction Eritrea for several months.
The resolution was tabled by Uganda
, and Burkina Faso
led the proceeding. It was adopted by 13 votes in favor, with Libya
voting against and one abstention from China
. Both countries said that sanctions were not an effective method for reconciliation.
Eritrean Ambassador Araya Desta condemned the resolution, calling it "shameful" and a "fabrication of lies" by the U.S. and "Ethiopian regime", and stated it would not affect the country. He also denied Eritrean support of Somali militants, stating that "Somalis are our brothers". At the same time, ambassadors from Somalia and Djibouti strongly supported the outcome.
The African Union
, an ardent supporter of the Somali government, had called on the Security Council to impose the sanctions. Eritrea withdrew from the African Union in protest.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1907, adopted on December 23, 2009, imposed an arms embargo
Arms embargo
An arms embargo is an embargo that applies to weaponry. It may also include "dual use" items. An arms embargo may serve one or more purposes:# to signal disapproval of behavior by a certain actor,# to maintain neutral standing in an ongoing conflict, or...
on Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, travel bans on its leaders, and froze the assets of some of the country's political and military officials as punishment for aiding anti-government rebels in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
and refusing to withdraw troops from its disputed border with 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...
, following a conflict in 2008. The African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
and other organisations had been calling on the Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
to sanction Eritrea for several months.
The resolution was tabled by Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, and Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
led the proceeding. It was adopted by 13 votes in favor, with Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
voting against and one abstention from China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Both countries said that sanctions were not an effective method for reconciliation.
Eritrean Ambassador Araya Desta condemned the resolution, calling it "shameful" and a "fabrication of lies" by the U.S. and "Ethiopian regime", and stated it would not affect the country. He also denied Eritrean support of Somali militants, stating that "Somalis are our brothers". At the same time, ambassadors from Somalia and Djibouti strongly supported the outcome.
The African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
, an ardent supporter of the Somali government, had called on the Security Council to impose the sanctions. Eritrea withdrew from the African Union in protest.
See also
- Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1901 to 2000 (2009 – 2011)
- Somali Civil WarSomali Civil WarThe Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. The conflict, which began in 1991, has caused destabilisation throughout the country, with the current phase of the conflict seeing the Somali government losing substantial control of the state to rebel forces...