The U.N. Security Council imposed sanctions on Eritrea because of aid that council members say the Horn of Africa country has given to Islamist insurgents in nearby Somalia.

A resolution supported by 13 of the 15 council members slapped an embargo on arms imports and exports by Eritrea, as well as asset freezes and travel bans on individuals and firms to be designated by an existing sanctions committee. Those hit would include members of the country's leadership, it said.

Eritrea has repeatedly denied allegations. It is the first time U.N. sanctions had been imposed on Eritrea.

Call to stop violence

The resolution demanded that Eritrea "cease arming, training, and equipping armed groups and their members including al Shabaab, that aim to destabilize the region" and also resolve a border dispute with Djibouti. It said "Eritrea's actions undermining peace and reconciliation in Somalia as well as the dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea constitute a threat to peace and international security."

Diplomats said Uganda, which has peacekeeping troops in Somalia that have been targeted by al Shabaab, drafted the resolution after the African Union called on the council in May to punish Eritrea over its role in Somalia. But Eritrea charged that its true author was the United States.

 
'Shameful resolution'

Eritrea's U.N. Ambassador Araya Desta described the resolution as "shameful" and told reporters it was based "on fabricated lies, mainly concocted by the Ethiopian regime and the U.S. administration."
Ethiopia, Eritrea's regional rival, invaded Somalia in 2006 with tacit U.S. backing to rout an Islamic courts movement from Mogadishu. It withdrew its troops earlier this year.

"We have never supported any insurgents or any opposition in Somalia," Desta said. "We don't want to take sides in Somalia. Somalis are our brothers."

Council debate

In the council debate, Libyan envoy Ibrahim Dabbashi said the resolution took an "unrealistic point of view and is too hasty." Tripoli opposed sanctions against any African country and believed the issue should have been postponed until after an AU summit next month, he said.

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yesui said sanctions "should not replace diplomatic efforts to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiations." China is traditionally leery of sanctions although it has voted for them in some cases.

But British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said Eritrea had merited sanctions for violating a U.N. arms ban on Somalia. U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said the measure was not "the door closing on Eritrea, but ... another opportunity for Eritrea to play a more responsible and constructive role in the region."

source: Reuters

photo: UN/ Sophie Paris