Timeline

 The Security Council met on 19 May 2010 under the agenda item "Peace and Security in Africa", to hear the President of the Republic of Djibouti, Mr Ismail Omar Guelleh, on the situation in the Horn of Africa. The Permanent Representative of France regretted that "nearly two years after the attack by Eritrea against Djibouti positions, not only the conflict remains unresolved, but the authorities in Djibouti have no news of the soldiers captured by Eritrea." He called for parties to engage in dialogue while stressing that it was "essential that the Eritrean authorities move from words to deeds".

 In a press statement of 11 June 2010, the members of the Security Council expressed support to the efforts of Qatar aiming to resolve peacefully the border dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea. In particular, they called upon both parties to engage in the mediation process fully and in good faith, to refrain form the use or the threat of use of force and to abide by their commitments.

 On 19 July 2011, the Security Council held an informal meeting on the implementation of resolution 1962 which calls for a peaceful resolution to the border dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Council members heard, during the meeting, foreign ministers of Eritrea and Ethiopia as well as representatives from neighboring countries (Kenya, Djibouti, Somalia and Uganda) and reiterated their desire to find a peaceful solution to this conflict.

 On 5 December 2011, the Security Council met in public session by videoconference with Mr. Meles Zenawi, Ethiopian Prime Minister and Chairman of IGAD, Mr. Ismael Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, President of Somalia and Mr. Moses Moses Wetangula, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya. They all denounced the destabilizing role played by Eritrea in the region and called on the Security Council to adopt measures against Asmara.

The Security Council subsequently adopted resolution 2023 (by thirteen votes in favor and abstentions of Russia and China) which tightens the sanctions regime established by resolution 1907 against Eritrea, targeting in particular the mining sector and the tax extortion by the regime within the Eritrean diaspora.

In his explanation of vote, the Permanent Representative of France underscored the destabilizing role and the lack of good faith of Eritrea towards its neighbours. Asmara had to engage in dialogue with them, in particular with Djibouti, Somalia and Ethiopia.