Garowe Online (Garowe)
18 October 2009
editorial
Often, the Ethiopian government is blamed for its military interventions in parts of Somalia. Rightfully so, since Ethiopian troops occupied Mogadishu in a period (2007-2008) marked by some of the worst violence witnessed during the ongoing Somali civil war. The Ethiopian government has a genuine stake in Somali affairs, given that flames from a neighbor's burning house affects the overall political stability of the Horn of Africa region.
For Eritrea, a tiny country with 3.5 million people, the motivations for interventionism in Somalia are different and so are the tactics. That Horn of Africa rivals Ethiopia and Eritrea are fighting a "proxy war" inside Somali borders - and thereby contributing to the misery of the Somali people - is an undeniable fact. While Ethiopia supports the "secular" Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, the Eritrean government has actively armed, trained and financed Somali insurgent factions claiming to fight for an "Islamist" cause.
The recent history of Somali Islamists has been tarnished by political sub-divisions, diverse interpretation of Islamic teachings, and an overall bloodthirsty attitude that radically transformed them from the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) heroes of 2006 to today's homicidal maniacs who exact extreme punishments for small crimes and fight over land and resources, just like the clan militias of yesteryear.
When the TFG changed and new President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed came to power in Jan. 2009, Ethiopia changed its strategic support for the TFG in Mogadishu and has resumed tacit support for independent militias, most notably the Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamee'a militia faction that has emerged as a military power in central Somalia, particularly Galgadud region. Ethiopia is threatened by the outward expansion of Islamist hardliners, especially Al Shabaab guerrillas, and support for groups such as Ahlu Sunnah is a way of neutralizing Al Shabaab.
But Eritrea has not changed its strategy and continues to regard the TFG as a Western plot, with Ethiopian endorsement, to take charge of Somalia and to install a pro-West regime. For Eritrea, supporting the Somali insurgents to keep its Ethiopian enemy on edge is part of a wider war with Ethiopia over control of a small border town. Publicly, the Eritrean government's message of aiming to "liberate" Somalia resonate well with most Somalis, who are disappointed with the catastrophic failures of the TFG leadership in Mogadishu. But realistically, Eritrea is playing a negative role to keep Somalia embroiled in a devastating war - which is a shame really, since the Somali government helped Eritrean rebels during their 30-year liberation war against Ethiopia.
The international community should send a strong signal to Eritrea, that fomenting wars in Somalia and supporting anti-government elements is unacceptable, since Eritrea's negative role is contrary to international efforts to help restore national order in Somalia.
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Hi, Mebras I am somali living in somalia, the ethopian troops have withdrawn from somalia after their accupation at 2007 and we hoped that the situation will relatively get better, however, we came to know that Ereteria- small country - who somalia have a hand in liberating it from the ethopian rule emerged as spoiler and continue to cause a havoc on our people.. i have seen the article on Allafrica, i read it and there is no contention within somalia community that Ereteria's role in somalia is negative because Eretera gives arms to some extremist somalis like Aweys and Alshabab and others and orders them to kill innocent people and then they say we are liberating somalia ( that is absurd and unfortunate).. if you want to fight ethopia, you have a long border with it.. use it.. you said im in Minesota, there is the largest somali diaspora in america..if you want proof ask them how many dont see Ereteria as abstacle to the peace in somalia..
thanks
With all do respect brother Eritrea benefits if the region is stable. You have not yet provided me with any kind of proof still. People have agenda's and they can write anything; therefore help me see what You see if you can. I don't want hearsay.
Hi, Mebras I am somali living in somalia, the ethopian troops have withdrawn from somalia after their accupation at 2007 and we hoped that the situation will relatively get better, however, we came to know that Ereteria- small country - who somalia have a hand in liberating it from the ethopian rule emerged as spoiler and continue to cause a havoc on our people.. i have seen the article on Allafrica, i read it and there is no contention within somalia community that Ereteria's role in somalia is negative because Eretera gives arms to some extremist elements like Aweys and Alshabab against the TFG ( Transitional Federal Government) and AMISOM and orders them to kill innocent people and then they say we are liberating somalia ( that is absurd and unfortunate)..
if you want to fight ethopia, you have a long border with it.. use it. Dont make us your Theatre!!!!! you said i am in Minesota, there is the largest somali diaspora in America..if you want proof ask them how many dont see Ereteria as abstacle to the peace in somalia..
thanks
abdi
I am somali living in somalia, the ethopian troops have withdrawn from somalia after their accupation at 2007 and we hoped that the situation will relatively get better, however, we came to know that Ereteria- small country - who somalia have a hand in liberating it from the ethopian rule emerged as spoiler and continue to cause a havoc on our people.. i have seen the article on Allafrica, i read it and there is no contention within somalia community that Ereteria's role in somalia is negative because Eretera gives arms to some extremist somalis like Aweys and Alshabab and others and orders them to kill innocent people and then they say we are liberating somalia ( that is absurd and unfortunate).. if you want to fight ethopia, you have a long border with it.. use it.. you said im in Minesota, there is the largest somali diaspora in america..if you want proof ask them how many dont see Ereteria as abstacle to the peace in somalia..
thanks
It seems you have no proof except simply repeating what i heard from people who do have - hidden agendas in opposition to the peaceful propositions which calls to leave Somalia for Somalians to solve their own internal problems.
Eritrea Stood and will continue to Stand by the historically and brotherly Somali people for a better Horn of Africa OR better YET- for the CONTINENT OF AFRICA.
I am disappointed in your reporting. I am an Eritrean living in the U.S. And all of these accusations of Eritrea supporting a terrorists group by means of arms,finacial among others. If all this is true why have you not provided proof? If you don't have proof why should I or anyone else accept your report with merit? You should not write anything as fact without proof, help me to see you as credible reporter and stop writing things that are not true for the sake of writing. And also you have got the population of Eritrea wrong, it is 5 million not 3.5 million. Thank you
Sami Mebrahtu-Minnesota