New Security Council resolution, Sahnoun

A UN Security Council resolution (1227) approved yesterday (Wednesday) “urged” states not to supply weapons and munitions to Ethiopia or Eritrea, but stopped short of an arms embargo.

The resolution was approved unanimously at a session in which UN special envoy Mohamed Sahnoun briefed the council on his ill-fated peace mission to the region. Sahnoun said later the world could soon see Africa’s first “high-tech” war, as both sides had sophisticated arsenals and aircraft. Sceptics doubted that the resolution would have any immediate effect. “They already both have a tonne of weapons”, a regional analyst told IRIN today. The Security Council condemned the use of force and demanded an immediate halt to hostilities.

Sahnoun said in a press briefing that he was told by actors in the conflict “too bad you arrived too late”, during his trip in the region.

The envoy expressed disbelief at the resumption of hostilities, saying:

“Given the kind of leadership the countries have I would have believed they would have been able to solve this.” He also said that he had had some “strong contacts” with both parties and had left the region with “some optimism when things suddenly blew up”. Sahnoun stressed that other states should bilaterally put pressure on both sides and not just adopt a resolution and “then forget about it”.