Citizens and residents expelled by both Ethiopia and Eritrea during their
1998-2000 border war should be offered repatriation and the restoration of citizenship, Human Rights Watch
said in a report released today.

The 64-page report, “The Horn of Africa
War: Mass Expulsions and the Nationality
Issue,” recounts the plight of almost one
hundred thousand citizens and residents of
both countries who were uprooted and
deprived of their residence and nationality
without a semblance of due process. It
documents cases of mistreatment typical of
the mass expulsions, including prolonged
detention, lack of food, water, and medical
care, beatings, and other physical abuse.

With final demarcation of the border
between Ethiopia and Eritrea set to take
place in May, there is hope that peace will
hold between the two countries. For tens of
thousands of Ethiopians and Eritreans, though, the human rights
consequences of the war are still devastating.