Tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia continued to escalate in April 2010, as 13 Ethiopian soldiers were killed at the border. Eritrea restricted UN peacekeepers and expelled some from its border with Ethiopia, citing Ethiopia's violations of agreements. Meanwhile, a UN report found Eritrea and other countries arming factions in Somalia's civil war, including Ethiopia backing the transitional government and Eritrea supporting Islamist groups. Violence in Somalia intensified as the al-Shabab militant group took more control of territory and carried out attacks. The international community grew increasingly concerned about the instability and threats posed by al-Shabab in the Horn of Africa region.

1. The Situation in the Horn of Africa
BBC 14st of April 2010: A result of open gunfire, 13 Ethiopian soldiers are killed and 30 are
wounded in the town of Badme along the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
After a full-scale war that ended in 2000 between the 2 countries, mounting tensions along the
borders continues to escalate as Ethiopia continues to disregard the implementation of the Algiers
agreement, which awarded the disputed town of Badme to Eritrea.
Reuters 15st of April 2010: Eritrea restricted the operations of UN peacekeepers (UNMEE) along
its border with Ethiopia and ordered the expulsion of North American, European and Russian
peacekeepers from UNMEE. It also announced it is recalling its Ambassador to the African Union
because of its "failure" to condemn Ethiopia's "gross violations" of the Algiers agreement.
According to a strong worded statement by the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"Eritrea is very much dismayed by the failure of the African Union to
uphold its charter and shoulder its treaty obligations"
Report of the Monitoring Group on Somalia BBC 16st of April 2010: A UN report says seven
countries - including Eritrea - have been providing arms and supplies to the rival Islamist
administration in Somalia. The report also claimed that Ethiopia was arming the UN backed Trans
Federal Government. Somalia has not had a stable government since 1991, since then its Trans
Federal Government (TFG) has been battling for control against the Islamic Courts Union, its
opposition. Consecutive violence has caused panic and mayhem in the country and has instigated a
dangerous islamic insurgency named “Al Shabab”.
Washington Post 17st of April 2010: Somalia's security minister and more than 20 other people are
killed in a suicide bombing at a hotel, north of the Somali capital Mogadishu. Somali President
Ahmed declares a state of emergency as violence intensifies. The attacks were claimed by
“Al Shabab” who have been causing major disturbances and gaining more control through out
Somalia.

2. BBC 17st of April 2010: The EU has expressed deep regret at the growing threat of islamic
militants in Somalia, demanding that:
“strong action must be taken in order to stop the militants from further
gaining control in the region and preventing countries that supply arms
and weapons.”
All Africa 18st of April 2010: African leaders have collectively condemned Al Shabab for its
"destabilizing nature" in the region and demanded that “Eritrea stop training, arming and
supporting militant groups of Somalia”
BBC 19st of April 2010: Al-Shabab is gaining more and more power and wins control over the
southern port city of Kismayo. At least 20 are killed and 70 injured in fighting that threatens to
spread to the rest of the Islamist-controlled south.
Amnesty 19st of April 2010: Fighting has led more than a million people to flee their homes and
seek refuge in neighboring countries such as Uganda and Ethiopia. Some three million people need
food and aid, but attacks by pirates and militias make it extremely difficult to deliver humanitarian
assistance.
ReliefWeb 19st of April 2010: The UN Special Representative for Somalia claimed that violence,
which has led to the deaths and displacement of a large number of civilians, was completely
unacceptable:
“There must be an immediate end to this fighting, there is now a legitimate,
internationally recognized Government in Mogadishu which should be
supported.”
Asia Times 21st of April 2010: In the oil rich city of Ogaden in Ethiopia- 2 miles from the border
of Somalia- 2 chinese oil pipelines are bombed killing 10 chinese peacekeepers and wounding 40.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said: "The Chinese government strongly condemns this
atrocious armed attack". Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi also quickly condemned the
attack claiming that:
"Something of a massacre has happened, we are pursuing the perpetrators
and will see to it that it doesn't happen again."

3. New York Times 22st of April 2010: US president Barack Obama has strongly condemned and
issued a strong warning against the terrorist attacks claiming that:“Al Shabab are no longer on
threatening regional security but are a threat to international security.”
CNN 23st of April 2010: Ethiopia launches a major offensive sending 15,000 troops to Somalia to
back up the Trans Federal Government (TFG) in an attempt to help it gain control over Somalia.
The US backed up the ill advised intervention, supplying the TFG and Ethiopia with arms and aid.
AllAfrica 23st of April 2010: Eritrea reacted angrily to Ethiopia's US backed invasion accusing the
US of inflaming regional conflicts. The invasion was also met with criticism from the international
community. As mayhem continues in Somalia, Ethiopia eventually withdraws its troops leaving a
weak TFG to battle the growing islamic opposition.
BBC 24st of April 2010: a commander of Al-Shabab said it would target Uganda which has
peacekeepers in Somalia. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said Somali Islamists will "pay"
if they attack Uganda's capital, claiming that:
"Those terrorists, I would advise them to concentrate on solving their
problems, If they try to attack Uganda, then they will pay because we
know how to attack those who attack us."
FBI 25st of April 2010: FBI officials warn that something sinister is happening in the local Somali
community, claiming that Al Shabab is the biggest terror investigation since 9/11. They stated
"to counter terrorism is our number one priority so we're focusing our
attention on this one."
Al Jazeera 26st of April 2010: The Arab League is deeply concerned with the situation and strongly
condemns and warns against Al Shabab's increasing ties to rebels in the region. It also calls upon
the international community to control the weapons being smuggled to Al Shabab.
CNN 27st of April 2010: Al Shabab bomb a UN compound killing 20 UN representatives and
wounding 30. Ban Ki moon released a statement strongly condemning the massacre and claiming
that “the situation in Somalia was too dangerous and there was no peace to keep.”

4. Reuters 28st of April 2010: Al-Shabab declares it is ready to send fighters to support Islamist rebels
in Nigeria and Yemen as well as declares alliance with al-Qaeda. It begins to concentrate troops in
southern Mogadishu for a major offensive to take full control of the capital.
BBC 29st of April 2010: The international community expressed severe concern and outrage as
well as claimed that forceful action must be taken fast in order to stop the escalating violence,
warning that “The Somali problem is now an international threat.”
Upon the request of the representative of Uganda the Security Council shall convene at 9:00 a.m.
on the 29rthof April 2010 in order to discuss and resolve the situation in the Horn of Africa.