The Double Standard of International Sanctions: The Case of Eritrea

Sanctions imposed on Eritrea by the international community have been widely criticized for being illegitimate, counterproductive, and reflecting a double standard. While Eritrea is burdened with sanctions for allegedly violating UN Security Council resolutions, its neighbor Ethiopia has failed to abide by its international legal obligations and responsibilities.

Ethiopia’s Aggression against Eritrea

The article highlights several instances of Ethiopian aggression against Eritrea, including:

• A large-scale attack in June 2016 that resulted in hundreds of deaths
• Threats made by Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to overthrow the government of Eritrea
• Boasts from high-level Ethiopian officials about their aggressive actions against Eritrea in parliament

The UN’s Inaction

Despite these instances of aggression, the UN Secretary General only meekly called for “restraint” from both sides after the June 2016 attack. This lack of action has been criticized as inadequate and ineffective.

The Flawed Approach to Eritrea

The international community’s approach to Eritrea is flawed, and sanctions should be removed without credible evidence. The UN, AU, and EU should genuinely censure Ethiopia’s illegal military occupation and repeated aggressive actions towards Eritrea.

Key Recommendations

• Remove sanctions from Eritrea without credible evidence
• Censure Ethiopia’s illegal military occupation and repeated aggressive actions towards Eritrea
• Call for the immediate implementation of the EEBC 2002 Delimitation and 2007 Demarcation decisions

Promoting Lasting Peace and Stability in the Horn of Africa

Removing sanctions from Eritrea and holding Ethiopia accountable for its actions could help promote lasting peace, stability, socio-economic growth, and development throughout the Horn of Africa. It is time for a more balanced approach to addressing conflicts in the region.

Key Points:

• The sanctions imposed on Eritrea by the international community are illegitimate and counterproductive
• Eritrea’s neighbor Ethiopia has failed to abide by its international legal obligations and responsibilities
• Ethiopia has engaged in repeated aggression against Eritrea, including a large-scale attack in June 2016 that resulted in hundreds of deaths
• The UN Secretary General only meekly called for “restraint” from both sides after the June 2016 attack
• Ethiopian officials have boasted about their aggressive actions against Eritrea in parliament
• The international community’s approach to Eritrea is flawed and sanctions should be removed without credible evidence