Dear

I am writing to convey my concern regarding the UN Security Council’s Resolution that was passed on 23rd December 2009 with the full support of the British Government. Resolution 1907 (2009) imposes arms embargo, travel restrictions and asset freezes against Eritrea on the allegation that it has provided financial and logistical support to Somali insurgents and it has refused to withdraw its forces to the ‘status quo ante’ following clashes with Djibouti in June 2008.

The allegation leveled against Eritrea in relation to Somalia is not new. Indeed, in 2006 the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia accused Eritrea as having 2000 personnel fighting alongside the Islamic Courts Union against the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. However, when the Ethiopian Army invaded Somalia in late 2006, no single Eritrean soldier was either captured or found dead. Equally, the nature of the allegation against Eritrea has also moved from “providing arms” to the insurgency to “providing political, financial, and logistical support”. Having said this, no one has yet been able to prove any wrong doing by Eritrea. In fact, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, has stated that he has not seen any evidence to link Eritrea to the mayhem in Somalia as alleged.

In relation to the alleged border dispute with Djibouti, Eritrea has rejected that it has a border conflict with Djibouti or is occupying any Djiboutian territory. However, the Security Council has imposed sanctions against Eritrea for not acknowledging its border dispute with Djibouti. I feel that this is double standards on the part of the Security Council. The reason is that the Security Council has failed to take any measures against Ethiopia given that it is still occupying sovereign Eritrean territory that was awarded by the International Boundary Commission set up by the UN. However, it was quick to take measure against Eritrea even though Eritrea has rejected that it has a border conflict with Djibouti or it is occupying any of Djibouti’s territory.

I believe that Resolution 1907 (2009) is unjust and wrong. It will create instability, having the potential to engulf the whole region into further crises and will undoubtedly have an adverse impact on British interests. Thus I urge you to raise my concern in the House and with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and assist in abolishing this unjust and wrong Resolution against Eritrea.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely