New friends: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (l.) And Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki. Photo: Tiksa Negeri (Reuters)

The Federal Council has lifted the eight-year sanctions imposed on Eritrea on Friday. In 2010, The council had adopted compulsory measures against the country and thus implemented a resolution of the UN.

The UN Security Council lifted sanctions against the Northeast African state in mid-November. The 15 members of the panel unanimously voted in favor of a United Kingdom resolution.

On this basis, the Federal Council decision fell, as the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) announced. At the end of 2009, the UN Security Council issued a resolution imposing an arms embargo, financial sanctions and a travel ban on Eritrea. The reason for this was the suspicion that the country supported armed groups in Somalia and thus contributed to the destabilization of the region.

Thousands are driven to flight

In addition, Eritrea refused to comply with the provisions of another 2009 resolution on border disputes with the Republic of Djibouti. The Federal Council adopted these measures with its own decree of 3 February 2010 on measures taken against Eritrea.

Eritrea has been repressive for years. Above all, the indefinite military and labor service has driven thousands of Eritreans into flight. Above all, Eritrea used the conflict with neighboring Ethiopia as a justification for its repressive policies. In 1998, a bloody border war broke out between the countries, just five years after Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia. Although the fighting ended in 2000, the states remained hostile. In July, Eritrea and Ethiopia surprisingly closed peace. (SDA / ta)