Washington, DC — Djibouti President Ismael Omar Guelleh recently criticised the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for failing to achieve a united stand on Somalia, which shares a common border with his country. Having initiated the Somali National Peace and Reconciliation Conference in the past, and nurtured the Transitional Government now in place in Mogadishu, Djibouti is worried that, should Somalia become the next target in the US-led war on terrorism, any chance of maintaining the fragile efforts to restore order and a functioning state there would evaporate. Djibouti's ambassador to Washington, Roble Olhaye, does acknowledge that the rumours have put Somalia back on the map but he warns the international community that there is a need for sustained support to help put the country back on its feet.
There are reports that all sorts of US-led military activities are taking place along Africa's East Coast, around the Horn of Africa. These reports seem to indicate that Somalia may be next in the US-led campaign against terrorism. Is that your assessment?
First of all, the search for terrorist cells anywhere is a legitimate enterprise that we all subscribe to. This is a war which is now in one camp. We're all on the same boat and we're all doing the same thing in order to rid ourselves of terrorism. So whether terrorism exists in Somalia, Afghanistan or elsewhere, as far as we are concerned, we want it to be dealt with, and to be dealt with effectively, so that people can live in peace and tranquility.
Regarding what is happening now in Somalia, I don't think it's more than a preventive measure whereby the US-led coalition forces are off the coast of Somalia, and may be conducting some reconnaissance flights in its space, mainly to prevent the possible escape of members of Al-Qaeda from Afghanistan who may seek shelter in Somalia. I think what we see now is that; whether we transit from here to air strikes, I have no idea. I cannot tell. I don't think there is any plausible evidence that this will be the case. But it is something that remains to be seen and we're all worried about it.
Are you saying there is nothing that leads you to believe that there are Al-Qaeda cells in Somalia?
What we know and have known about Somalia for a long time is that there is lawlessness and chaos. It is a country that self-destructed. There has been desperation, poverty, neglect and indifference by the international community for a long time. These are people who have been left on their own for a long time. These are people who have been trying on their own for a long time. These are people who have frustrations and are dealing with them on their own. But nothing beyond that.
So if there is lax law enforcement in Somalia and the international community wants us to come and assist to tighten and close the gap in this situation of neglect and lack of security, that is welcome. That is the way to go about Somalia: to assist it, to put it back into shape so that the Somalis can live a decent life, can be a nation again, can be worthy neighbours.
But if this chaotic situation makes it seem as though Al-Qaeda could possibly be there, that may be the case, but to say that there is a real Al-Qaeda presence in the way it is known in Afghanistan, we are not aware of it and we are not sure it is prevailing in Somalia. Afghanistan and Somalia are two completely different situations. They are two completely different countries. Two different peoples. What has been happening in Afghanistan has never happened in Somalia.
If there is a justification for striking Somalia because of the existence of credible evidence of what you might call terrorists, we are all for it, we are here to clear out all these elements wherever they may exist, and Somalia is no exception. But let us prove it. Let us have the evidence and the justification. Let us do the right thing. That is why I say that the coalition forces are doing the right thing. What they have done now is to put some kind of preventive measures and they are evaluating all other intelligence reports, whether from this or that neighbour, this or that warlord, wherever, they are doing the right thing and I don't think they are in a hurry.
So what are you, as a neighbour with a vested interest in Somalia, suggesting should be done to fill this political vacuum you mentioned?
The Somalis have got what you might call a fragile government there. It may be weak, it may be fragile,it may not have territorial reach, but it represents the will of the people. It was formed by the will of the people. After conflict in any country in the world, there is always a fragile government but the world rushes to support that little ray of hope in order to build it up. I don't think that's what is happening for Somalia.
Everybody talks about that governmnent's weakness, its lack of reach and clout. But nobody says, 'let's go and help this legitimate entity which has a seat at the United Nations, at IGAD, at the Arab League, at the OAU.' We did the same in Sierra Leone, in Liberia, in Guinea-Bissau. Why don't we do it in Somalia? Instead, we are talking about warlords, about ways of forming an alternative government, about how this or that could be hit and struck. I am sometimes surprised.
Some voices in the northern, self-declared republic of Somaliland criticise your government's non-recognition of their country and say that this undermines its stability and, thus, contributes to instability throughout Somalia? Would a US-led campaign against terrorism change that, do you think, and bring you and the Somalilanders closer together?
No. First of all, Somaliland is part of Somalia. It is a misnomer to use that name. Anyone can float any name in Somalia. You have Jubalanders and Puntlanders and others but there is no sufficient ground for that and these people are all part and parcel of Somalia. We want the Somali people to come to their senses and to lead a decent life and to be good neighbours and to reconstitute themselves. That's what we want. We have no axe to grind in a destabilized Somalia.
We've been hearing that Ethiopia, one of the most influential players in the region, is getting involved in Somalia and possibly even training Somalis to act as proxies for the Americans, à la Northern Alliance in Afghanistan. Given Djibouti's very close ties with Ethiopia, can you tell us to what extent, if at all, is Addis-Ababa exerting pressure for some sort of US-led military action in Somalia?
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I will refrain from talking about Ethiopia because Ethiopia is a neighbour. Whatever we know about those complex regional politics issues, we leave it to you to find out but it may not be prudent on my part to speak about the intentions of a neighbour.
But are the Ethiopians trying to push Djibouti in one direction or another with regard to military action in Somalia?
No. That scenario is not even plausible.
Finally, are there any benefits you think you and the other countries in the region could derive from this whole situation in Somalia brought about by the 11th September attacks?
Absolutely. There have to be. If we are here fighting terrorism, anywhere where there isn't strong enforcement, where there aren't frameworks, there is a breeding ground and there will be a haven for those feelings of discontent. So definitely, it is in the interest of the West to have another look at Somalia. They have neglected Somalia for too long. The Somalis had been left on their own for too long. Had it not been for September 11th, you would not have heard of Somalia. So thanks, we are hearing about Somalia today but let us not forget about it tomorrow. Let us do the nation-building that is necessary. Let us assist the people of Somalia. They deserve to be helped, to be rehabilitated. To be put back on track.
