What does Ethiopia and Kenya Joining African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) means? By Somalinimo Midnimo Since the collapse of Central government of Siad Bare in Somalia 1990, Ethopia has been conducting covert operations in Somalia since the collapse of Siad Bare regime especially in Gedo region namely in Luuq, Baardheere, and Garbaharye cities as well as Bay and Bakol region. Also, Ethiopia has been arming warlords to further destabilize Somalia and intensify ongoing internal civil war. According to BBC report a panel formed by the united nation conducted an investigative research find out that UN arms embargo was violated by regional states in which Ethiopia comes at first rank. According to the report Ethiopia has been smuggling arms to Somali warlords to topple Transitional National Government lead by President Abdikasem Salad Hassan. Please read the following link for more information: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2124637.stm Both Ethiopia and Kenya has been undermining different Somali governments that emerged Since the formation of Somali national government in Djibouti conference of Carte in 2000. Both has repeatedly stated publicly that they are against Somalia integration and formation of strong government that is capable of boasting its authority in all Somali territories to restore law and order and secure its boarders. Not secret that Ethiopia and Kenya is doing everything in their capacity to dismantle Somalia into small” building blocks” under what is called federalism in which they created a clean based federalism where every tribe is controlling small piece of land run by a warlord who’s allegiance is to Ethiopia and Kenya. Take an example Jubba Adminstration was created by Kenyas military offensive and occupation of port city of Kismayo and Ahmed Madobe was appointed by them. Ahlu Suna Wal Jamaca of central Somalia took full control in majority of central state territories by direct military aid from Ethiopia. As a result recently they have captured two individuals from ONLF and hand them over to Ethiopian troops stationed in Guriceel of Central state. Please read the following link for more information: caasimada/ahlu-sunna-oo-u-gacan-galisay-ethiopia-seddax-saraakiil-onlf/ Ethiopia and Kenya’s main goal is to divide Somalia to ensure that Somalia as a country never rises again as a strong nation who is capable peacefully to compete with its regional countries as well as internationally in many fronts politically, and economically through economical trade and free market exchange of merchandise goods and services. Because of its strategic location as key controller to Bab-el-Mandeb strait which connects Horn of Africa to Arabian Peninsula and it also connects Red Sea to Gulf of Aden, Somalia can play a leadership role in East of Africa. In addition Somalia is full of natural resources such as oil, gas and marine resources as it controls the longest coastline in Africa. Former President of Kenya Mr. Danial Arab Moi revealed during a lecture at the American Defence University in Washington DC, United States the true intentions of Ethiopia and Kenya toward Somalia. Moi said some of the countries neighboring Somalia, feared that a re-united and prosperous Somalia might resurrect its early territorial claims. He recalled that at independence, the Somalia Republic was claiming parts of Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia and consequently initiated armed conflicts to try and realize this idea. Please read the link below for more information somalitalk/2009/may/13/moi2003.html Also, Mr Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad a professor in Kenyatta university stated in an interview with Al Jazzera English “ Kenya and Ethiopia would rather have a weak Somalia as a neighbour, the reason is that Somalia has not officially renounced its dream of a greater Somalia” Please read the following link for more information: aljazeera/indepth/features/2014/02/201422122028512719.html Similarly in an article published recently by Ahmed Ali M. Khayre he cited that Ethiopian government admitted publicly that their true motive behind their interference in Somalia was to dismantle Somalia. According to Mr Ahmed Ali late Ethiopian Prime Minster Melez Zenawi admitted that his country’s foreign policy toward Somalia is to “…dismantle Somalia to the extent possible,” and furthermore take “…the war to Somalia and, along the way, aggravating the contradiction between the Somali clans.” For more information please read the following link: hiiraan/op4/2014/feb/53220/ethiopian_troops_have_joined_amisom_what_this_means_for_amisom_as_a_neutral_force.aspx According to former ambassador of United States to Ethiopia David Shinn “Ethiopia’s pervious involvement in Somalia was for their own interest and not to support the federal government, they will be benefiting from their presence in Somalia by getting financial aid from donor countries and its consider to be reaffirmation for their military involvement in Somalia. For more information please read the following link: hiiraan/news/2014/Jan/wararka_maanta22-45022.htm As for Kenya, their main goal behind their military intervention in Somalia is to rewrite border demarcation. The goal is to create a buffer zone in middle Jubba area and takeover Somali coastline which is rich of natural resources such as oil and gas. This full takeover is a another step of ongoing serious of steps that were taken by Ethiopia and Kenya to indefinite military occupation to Somalia in order to set the stage for possible annex to Somalia under the political umbrella of Inter governmental authority for Development ( IGAD). Please find the attached links for more information: somalitalk/2012/12/23/ethiopia-kenya-decided-to-takeover-somalia/ caasimada/warar/jubbaland-aagga-xirmada-ee-kala-qaybiya-soomaaliya-iyo-kenya-buffer-zone/ According to DONALD KIPKORIR a writer in Daily Nation News Paper of Kenya he stated in an article that was published in regard to Somalia, it’s the time for Kenya and Ethiopia to Annex Somalia among them. In his article titled “Why Kenya and Ethiopia ought to annex and divide Somalia” Mr KIPKORIR states “Kenya and Ethiopia must and ought to dismember Somalia and divide it between themselves along the 4 degrees latitude, each taking all the land below and above the line. The division will make both countries extend their territories by roughly 300,000sq km and additional populations of about five million” For more information please review the following link: https://hiiraan/op2/2008/oct/why_kenya_and_ethiopia_ought_to_annex_and_divide_somalia.aspx Human Rights records of abuses by Ethiopian Troops: Following Ethiopian invasion to Somalia in 2007 there were serious atrocities and war crimes that was committed by these troops. According to a report issued by Human Rights Watch “Ethiopian troops repeatedly used area bombardment in populated urban areas in response to insurgent attacks. These indiscriminate attacks killed and wounded hundreds of civilians. Hospitals were deliberately targeted in some of the early offensives in March-April 2007. Ethiopian forces have also carried out targeted attacks on civilians, including killings of civilians by snipers and summary executions of individuals in their custody”. For more information please read the following link: hrw.org/news/2008/03/30/human-rights-crisis-somalia So what does Ethiopia and Kenya joining Amisom Means: (1) To boast legitimacy to their troops presence in Somalia and their subsequent Actions which damages overall image of Amisom as neutral forces and Alshabaab will be using their presence as a recruiting tool. (2) To encourage impunity and lack of accountability from atrocities and war crimes committed by these troops. (3) Further destabilization to Somalia and insecurity which deepens the Statelessness image worldwide and might set the stage for placing the country under trusteeship and possible annexation. The way forward: I will summarize some thoughts on way forward as follow: (1) International community efforts should be focusing on training and equipping Somali security forces. The following two links shows some sort of international support towards that: hiiraan/news4/2014/Feb/53215/somalia_trains_its_first_commandos_after_the_collapse_of_the_central_government.aspx hiiraan/news/2014/Feb/wararka_maanta9-45242.htm (2) The above approach could be concurrent with shifting peace keeping mission from Amssiom to a broader umbrella which is United Nation in which troops from Muslim countries such as Turkey, Nigeria, Sudan and Pakistan are to replace Ethiopia, Kenyan and Ugandan troops. (3) International support for the federal government both politically and economically in its effort to tackle Alshabab and pirates. (4) Government investment in education, job creation and overall standard of leaving improvement as valid alternative for Somali youth than joining Alshabab movement.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 01:18:05 +0000
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