Building peace

Ethiopia and Eritrea.

In the dusty borderlands between Ethiopia and Eritrea, two Australian soldiers are carrying on the work of their predecessors on Op Pomelo as part of the UN mission keeping apart the two African nations. Maj Graham Hales reports from Asmara.

Border war between neighbours

War between Ethiopia and Eritrea began on May 6, 1998, with hostilities initially erupting in the small border town of Badme as a result of a border dispute. Following intensive UN diplomacy, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit in Algiers in July 1999 bought the two warring parties together.

Despite further diplomatic efforts, the fighting between Eritrea and Ethiopia erupted again on May 12, 2000. Talks between Ethiopia and Eritrea resumed in Algiers on May 30. Those talks culminated in the signing, on June 18, 2000, of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea by the Foreign Ministers of both countries.

Under the agreement, the parties called upon the UN in cooperation with OAU, to establish a peacekeeping operation to assist in the implementation of the agreement.

Forty nations provide the mission

On June 30, 2000, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1312 decided to establish the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) with UNMEE becoming fully operational on July 31.

The mission comprises a multi-national peacekeeping force of about 4200 personnel from more than 40 nations, including 215 military observers (UNMOs), plus representation from a variety of civilian UN agencies. UNMEE HQ is in Asmara, Eritrea and is staffed by 127 military and 50 international civilian personnel, with an additional 33 air support staff provided by the Uruguayan military contingent.

The 4200-strong UN peacekeeping force currently keeps the two sides apart with a 25km Temporary Security Zone (TSZ). The UNMEE Force is basically brigade size divided into three sectors, Sector West (Jordanian Bn), Sector Centre (Indian Bn) and Sector East (Kenyan Bn).

With UNMEE HQ based in Asmara with an office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Finnish HQ Guard and Admin Coy, the Uruguayan Aviation Unit, the Italian MP Coy, Slovakian, Kenyan and Bangladeshi Engineer De-mining Coys, the Indian Force Reserve Company (FRC) and the Jordanian Level II Hospital in Asmara complete the UNMEE Force.

UNMEE Indian Battalion Engineering Pl reconstructing access routes in the region of Barentu/Eritrea, 2001.

Kenbat deminer at work in point 44 of the eastern sector of the temporary security zone, March 2003. Photos by J. Aramburu, UNMEE

UNMEE’s mandate

According to the UN Security Council Resolution 1320 (2000) dated September 15, 2000, the UNMEE mandate is to monitor the cessation of hostilities, assist in ensuring the observance of the security commitments agreed by the parties, monitor and verify both Eritrean and Ethiopian redeployment of forces and monitor the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ).

Additionally, UNMEE’s mandate is to ensure compliance of the Peace Agreement, coordinate humanitarian and mine-action activities and chair the Military Coordination Commission (MCC) established by the UN to bring together both Eritrean and Ethiopian military hierarchy on a regular basis.

By Resolution 1430 dated August 14, 2002, the Security Council adjusted the UNMEE mandate in order to assist the independently established Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission (EEBC) to de-mine key areas, to support the demarcation and provide administrative and logistical support for the field offices of the Boundary Commission.

Border arbitration at stalemate

The EEBC was established soon after the Peace Agreement was signed to arbitrate the new border. On April 13, 2002, the EEBC, based in the Hague, handed down their decision on delimitation of the common border between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Although demarcation of the 1000km contested border was scheduled by the commission to start in early July 2002, the political stalemate between the two countries has not set the conditions needed for the EEBC to begin demarcation.

The latest UNSC Resolution 1531 (2004) has extended UNMEE’s mandate until September 15. This resolution adopted on March 12 strongly urges both Ethiopia and Eritrea to commit to the peace process, allow UNMEE full freedom of movement to carry out their mandate and for Ethiopia to abide by the decision of the EEBC.

As of May 2004, the peace process has stalled with the formal postponement of border demarcation by both Ethiopia and Eritrea and the scaling-down of EEBC operations and staff.

Australia’s involvement

In January 2001, the Australian Government agreed to provide two Army staff officers (a RAE major and an arms corps captain) for four six-month rotations to UNMEE on Op Pomelo.

There have been seven Australian Contingent (ASC) rotations with the Government recently extending Army’s commitment until February 2005.

In total, 14 officers have been deployed on Op Pomelo:

Each contingent has been deployed as staff officers within HQ UNMEE located in Asmara, Eritrea. The Area Of Responsibilities (AOR) of the mission covers all of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Each role has subtly changed and developed over the past three years, with the most significant change occurring in December 2002, when the-then Commander Australian Contingent (COMASC 4) Maj Rob Gray, saw there was a need to strengthen the military component of the Geographical Cell within the G2 branch of HQ UNMEE.

This was endorsed by the UNMEE Force Commander and since then, an Engineer Specialist-Geomatic who is also the Military Chief-Geo Cell, has led all following rotations.

This does not detract, however from the achievements from previous Combat Engineer specialists deployed on Op Pomelo. The Training Officer position is now an All Corps position.

Maj Graham Hales and Capt Bill Gardner outside HQ UNMEE in the capital of Eritrea, Asmara.

Changing UN mindsets

‘As far as UNMEE training is concerned, Military Training Branch’s role is to provide UNMEE specific training by providing up-to-date in country briefings covering a variety of subjects.

“Most soldiers’ biggest challenge seems to be changing their mindset from conventional military ops to UN peacekeeping ops. UN peacekeeping ops is about just that, defending peace and only using force as a last resort and only to defend UN personnel, designated UN property, or other personnel regarded as coming under the UN family.

“For the previous Australian Army captains that have served in the Op Pomelo Military Training Branch, they have been afforded some interesting and diverse insights into more than 65 different TCNs officers, their nature, and thought processes.”

– Capt Bill Gardner

To Asmara and back

January to July 2001: Maj Stuart McCarthy, RAE, and Capt Cameron Mann, RAAC.
July 2001 to January 2002: Maj Stuart Brown, RAE, and Capt Bruce Baldwin, RAAC.
January to July 2002: Maj Geoff Meers, RAE, and Capt Justin Beech, RAInf.
July 2002 to January 2003: Maj Rob Gray, RAE, and Capt Jeremy King, RAAC.
January to July 2003: Maj Terry Lord, RAE, and Capt Richard Simson, RAA.
July 2003 to February 2004: Maj Michelle Breen, RAE, and Capt Jason Ross, RAA.
From February 2004: Maj Graham Hales, RAE, and Capt Bill Gardner, RAAOC.

Invaluable experience

Op Pomelo has provided the opportunity to gain valuable experience in working in a multi-national HQ and the exposure and interaction with the Ethiopian and Eritrean military formations of up-to-corps size, which are largely based on former Soviet structures, doctrine, tactics and equipment.

It has also provided experience in military operations conducted in a remote, inhospitable and hazardous environment with a high-mine threat.

The benefits experienced by personnel deployed to Op Pomelo are consistent with involvement in a brigade size, multi-national force engaged in an inter-positionary peacekeeping operation.

Specifically, these include:

The Mereb River Bridge between Ethiopia and Eritrea, opened in June 2001 – Maj Stuart McCarthy, RAE, was involved in its planning and construction. Photos and maps provided by Maj Graham Hales.

Remains of the two-year war between Ethiopia and Eritrea at point 44 of the temporary security zone, March 2003. Photo by J. Aramburu, UNMEE

Critical stage

‘The mission is reaching a critical stage with the continued diplomatic impasse between Ethiopia and Eritrea reaching a point where the UN may have to re-assess its options to break the deadlock.”

“Despite this, work continues in providing civil aid to the community, de-mining activities and providing security within the AOR. There are still lots of work to be done in improving the way the UN conducts its business.

“For instance, the Geo Cell is a relatively new development in UN PKOs and UNMEE personnel are starting to realise the importance to having accurate and timely topographical and geospatial information.

“We rely heavily on the UNMOs and sector contingents to provide us with updated information in the field so the Geo Cell can correct and update existing data.

“The UNMO officers are our field checkers, our field verifiers. Their input is critical, as the Geo Cell does not have the capacity to carry out field verification itself.

“Map accuracy; especially along the TSZ boundaries is vital to ensure that UNMEE can effectively carry out its mandate and both the Ethiopian and Eritrean military abide by the Algiers Peace Agreements brokered in December 2000, which eventually saw Ethiopian forces withdraw to its pre-1998 boundaries with Eritrea.

“Those Army members that have served on Op Pomelo should be justifiably proud of their achievements and know that they have made a significant contribution to UNMEE in the endeavour to bring long-lasting peace to the region.

“Both Capt Gardner and myself are determined to continue that effort.” – Maj Graham Hales

Putting in the hard yards for UNMEE

Up until December 2002, the Major was employed in the UNMEE HQ G4 Engineer Cell with primary responsibility for the planning and conduct of support engineering tasks.

Notable achievements have been:

Op Pomelo veterans, from left, Capt Jeremy King, Maj Rob Gray, Maj Terry Lord and Capt Richard Stimson at HQ UNMEE, Asmara in January 2003.

Capt Cameron Mann in the field in Eritrea in July 2001.

Once the Geomatic Engineer was employed in G2 Branch as the Military Chief, Geographic (Geo) Cell, the main aim was to improve the provision of topographic support. Notable achievements have been:

The Captain is employed in the HQ’s Military Training Branch. He has become principally responsible for the planning, development, coordination and execution of force-level exercises.

In addition, he also provided the link between the military, UNMO and civilian training branches and has become instrumental in the development of the integrated UN Mission Training Cell concept within UNMEE.

Notable achievements have included: