February 12, 2008: Eritrea has refused a UN request to supply fuel to UN peacekeeping monitors and peacekeeping forces operating along the Eritrea-Ethiopia border. As a result, the peacekeepers will move their supply operations to Ethiopia. Eritrea began restricting fuel shipments to UN forces in 2006 and imposed a fuel supply ban in December 2007. The Eritrean government has accused the UN of "favoring Ethiopia" and has denied UN troops access to key areas of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ).

February 6, 2008: During 2007 over 10,000 Eritrean refugees fled to Sudan. One of the reasons the refugees gave for leaving Eritrea was to escape "mandatory military service." The Eritreans are in camps in eastern Sudan. The UN estimates that around ten percent of Eritrea's population is in the military. Ethiopia, Eritrea's primary adversary, has a much larger population. Eritrea relies on a "mobilized society" to confront Ethiopia.

February 2, 2008: The government of Eritrea condemned the UN for extending the mandate of UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE). Eritrea claimed that the UN and international community were refusing to recognize Ethiopia's responsibility for the continuing crisis. The border demarcation commission gave Eritrea the disputed region around the town of Badme. Ethiopia refused to accept the commissions binding decision.

January 30, 2008: The UN Security Council extended the mandate for the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) for another six months. At the moment the UN has 1700 peacekeepers serving with UNMEE.