Sahelo-Saharan summit

Eliminating the growing tension between Eritrea and Djibouti is high on the agenda of a 4-5 February summit of the Community of Sahelian and Saharan States (COMESSA) in the Chadian capital, Ndjamena, news reports said. Djibouti has accused Asmara of trying to destabilise the Horn of Africa while Eritrea has charged that Djibouti is siding with Ethiopia in its war against Eritrea, AFP reported. Eritrea and Djibouti broke off diplomatic relations in November 1998, six months after the start of the Ethiopia-Eritrea border war. The eight COMESSA heads are also expected to discuss economic matters affecting the group, formed in 1998 at the initiative of Libya, and to try to harmonise their political positions at international fora such as the Organisation of African Unity and the United Nations, AFP reported. The free movement of capital and people within the community was also expected to be discussed. Members of COMESSA are Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Libya, Mali, Niger and Sudan. Djibouti is seeking membership.