The violence erupted on the eve of Ethiopian multi-party parliamentary elections and many observers believe the fighting is politically motivated. Most observers believe Ethiopian intransigence caused peace talks to founder in Algiers last week. Needless to say opposition parties are incensed. There is a natural affinity between Eritrea and Ethiopia reinforced by ethnic, linguistic and religious ties. The two ruling regimes share a common history of fighting together against Mengistu's dreaded Dergue, or junta.
Peace is held hostage by the ruling clique in Ethiopia.
The conflict goes back several years now, although it only became public in May 1998, when Ethiopia openly declared war on Eritrea. The fiercest fighting came in February 1999, when Ethiopians recaptured Badme. Ethiopia wants to resolve the conflict militarily. Ethiopia is not interested in peace. The first two are substantive documents, the third deals with the details and sequencing of implementation.