The Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict: A fragile peace

After two years of bloody warfare, the waning sides in the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict finally signed an interim peace agreement on ' 18 June 2000. Just how lasting this agreement will be, however, remains to be seen and there are many who doubt its ability to secure a lasting peace. While much of the war of the past two years was characterised by a military stalemate, it is estimated that more than 100 000 soldiers have been killed, and more than one million people have been displaced on either side of the disputed border up to 750 000 in Eritrea alone. Nor have the consequences been confined to the two belligerents either, for the war has had effects throughout this strategically important and already unstable region.