Northern Ireland: Brexit again a source of tension

Graffiti in a loyalist district of Belfast: "No border in the Irish Sea".

PAUL FAITH AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

Brexit is once again a source of tension in Northern Ireland.

Several Northern Irish unionist paramilitary groups have just withdrawn their support for the 1998 peace agreement to protest against the protocol put in place as part of the Brexit agreement.

This protocol involves controls and means the establishment of a border between the Northern Irish province and the rest of the United Kingdom, an unacceptable separation for these paramilitaries.

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With our correspondent in London,

Muriel Delcroix

" 

Do not underestimate the resentment aroused within the Unionist family 

": the letter, on behalf of three loyalist paramilitary organizations sounds like a clear warning addressed to London, Dublin and Brussels.

If no swift changes are made to the protocol that governs trade between Northern Ireland and the UK since Brexit, the Good Friday deal will be ' 

destroyed forever

 '.

Supply disruptions

In the meantime, the paramilitaries have decided to no longer support the 1998 peace treaty even though their opposition to the Northern Irish protocol should remain "

peaceful and democratic

 ".

Trade disruptions caused by controls between Britain and Northern Ireland since Brexit, including supply disruptions at supermarkets and the continued refusal of some large chains to deliver their food to the province have heightened tensions within the unionist parties.

Intolerable separation

The paramilitaries loyal to the crown see it as an intolerable separation from the British motherland and call for a drastic relaxation.

An intense pressure which explains the decision of the British government, Wednesday evening, to extend by six months until October 1st the “

grace period 

” on the customs controls between London and Belfast which was to expire on April 1st.

A unilateral decision in violation of the Brexit agreement which was immediately condemned by the European Commission and aggravates the bitter disagreements between London and Brussels.

►

To read also:

Northern Ireland: why the post-Brexit protocol still divides

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  • North Ireland

  • United Kingdom

  • Brexit

  • European Union

  • Ireland

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