ETHIOPIA: It is in the minority regime's interest to perpetuate the bloody crisis in Somalia

October 01, 2010

The minority regime´s paranoia is reflected in the writings that it posts on Walta Information Center, the official Ethiopian government site and the ranting of its representatives at the UN General Assembly in New York. The daily commentary about Eritrea, its government and activities in Eritrea, even visits by foreign dignitaries such as the recent visit by Lynn Pascoe, the U.N. Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, is also evident of its obsession with Eritrea. Lately, its paranoia about Eritrea stems from the fear that the international community´s search for other viable and sustainable solutions for Somalia would mean taking a second look at Eritrea´s position on Somalia.

The minority regime´s growing paranoia was in full display at the United Nations where world leaders were gathered. There were two issues that dominated the discourse- Sudan and the upcoming referendum was one of them and the other was the ongoing crisis in Somalia. Ethiopia´s representatives threw tantrums when they found out that Eritrea was invited to participate in the international forum on Somalia. They created such a ruckus that UN officials were dumbfounded by the childish and immature actions, so unbecoming of diplomats. The minority regime´s diplomats continue to embarrass Ethiopians at every forum and they did again at the UN. In addition to diverting attention from the issues in Somalia and misrepresenting the facts about Somalia, the regime was hell bent on keeping Eritrea out of any international discussions on Somalia.

If any state is to be barred from discussions on finding solutions for the crisis in Somalis, it should be those countries that are responsible for the chaos and mayhem that defines Somalia today and topping that list would be Ethiopia, a country that has gone to war with Somalia three times. Ethiopia has scuttled every opportunity for peace in Somalia by arming opposing factions for the last 16 years. It was the December 2006 US-backed Ethiopian invasion and occupation of Somalia that has created the greatest humanitarian disaster in the history of Somalia. Somalia's infrastructures (schools, hospitals, markets) are in ruins and thousands of Somalis (mostly women and children) have been forced to flee away from their homes and villages and over 25000 innocent Somalis have been killed. Including Ethiopia in consultations about Somalia is akin to inviting Osama Bin Laden to a meeting on counter terrorism...more..

ETHIOPIA: It is in the minority regime's interest to perpetuate the bloody crisis in Somalia