In 6 April 2005 correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, a professor at the Department of History of the University of Durham (UK), who conducted research on the recent conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, stated that he was "not aware of any documentary evidence of Ethiopia sending deserters from the Eritrean army to the US using Ethiopian travel documents." The professor explained that "[i]t is just possible that Eritrean deserters would eventually have been able to claim Ethiopian citizenship (many of those who were deported from Ethiopia after 1998 were indeed Ethiopian citizens, and were recruited - occasionally against their will - into the Eritrean army). In this case some might have managed to travel to the US on Ethiopian documents, but I find the idea of them being sent by Ethiopia rather implausible" (6 Apr. 2005). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Professor, Department of History, University of Durham, United Kingdom. 6 April 2005. Correspondence.

Oral sources: An academic source did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response.
Publications: Africa Confidential (Jan. 2000-Jan. 2005), Africa Research Bulletin (Jan. 2000-Jan. 2005)

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Internet sites, including: Abyz News Links, AllAfrica.com, BBC News, CIA World Factbook, Country Reports 2003, Country Reports 2004, European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), Freedom House, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent, Migration News, United Kingdom - Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), War Resisters' International (WRI), World News Connection (WNC).