With Ethiopia as a Friend, Somalia does not need a foe
Abdi Ismail Samatar
University of Minnesota
The Ethiopian Prime Minister has often swanked about the generosity of the Somali people and government to him and his party during their long and bloody struggle against the Mengistu dictatorship. Somalia’s kindness came in multiple forms: Somali passports at the disposal of key leaders of Zenawi’s party (Tigray People’s liberation Front -TPLF), refuge for him and others in Mogadishu, and material and military assistance for their struggle. When the Mengistu regime collapsed and Zenawi’s party took over the reign in Ethiopia, Somalis breathed a sigh of relief assuming that a new era of friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries will be ushered. The Somalis’ naiveté lasted for quite sometime despite the clear evidence that the new regime in Addis Ababa was engaged in a divide and rule tactic with the population in its Somali region. But perceptive observers could also detect Ethiopia’s cunning approach in its attempt to play a seemingly honest mediator of the Somali conflict in 1993 when the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea told the international community that their brand of leadership was best suited to resolve the Somali conundrum. Shortly after this, the OAU asked Ethiopia to lead the charge on Somali peace. Unbeknown to most Somalis and other Africans, Ethiopia finally got the long-desired opportunity to manage Somali Affairs. One keen Somali observer noted in Addis Ababa in 1993 that Ethiopia’s strategy for Somalia was to produce one of two futures: a) help create a compliant Somali government that will be under its tutelage; b) or ensure that Somalia is divided into Bantustans that shall never challenge its hegemony. How telling these incredibly insightful words were!
Read the rest of the Article: http://www.hiiraan.com/op/2006/aug/With-Ethiopia-as-a-friend-Somalia-does-not-need-a-foe-Abdi-Samatar160806.aspx
posted by RashidYare @ 11:27 AM
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