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Role of militia discussed with UNMEE

Members of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) have held talks with military officials in Asmara, Eritrea, on the role of the Eritrean militia. An UNMEE statement released on Monday 8 January said the talks focused on “the nature of the national militia and police in the 25-km-wide temporary security zone, which will be created between repositioned Ethiopian and Eritrean forces, and monitored by the UN.”

Participants discussed the militia’s functions and structure, as well as the question of what weapons militia members would be allowed to carry, the statement said.

According to the 18 June Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities signed by Ethiopia and Eritrea, once Ethiopian redeployment has been verified by UNMEE, Eritrean civilian administration would be restored. Civilian administration, including “police and local militia”, would be restored “to prepare for the return of the population”, the statement said.


This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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