OLOL Posted December 25, 2006 Leave Somalia alone 25 December 2006 WITH Ethiopian military incursions into the Somalian territory, in the name of fighting Islamic militants, the situation in the Horn of Africa is getting increasingly dangerous. Regional peace is under serious threat. And it looks like Somalia, one of the hotspots of the continent, would now be used for a proxy war between largely-Christian Ethiopia and its bitter rival, Eritrea, a nation that backs the Islamists. Somalia is already the scene of intense fighting between pro-government troops, including those drawn from Ethiopia and the powerful Islamic Courts movement. Why is Ethiopia bent on adding to Somalia’s woes when it’s clear that it’s not in a position to offer a solution? Somalia’s problems are aplenty. There’s virtual anarchy for the past 15 years, and the namesake interim government, propped up by the West, is proving itself totally ineffective while Islamists now enjoy near-complete control over the country. They have won the support of the people by reining in perennially fighting warlords and enforcing peace and security in the country. Ethiopian incursions are now undermining these efforts. Amid the rolling in of the Ethiopian tanks and the air strikes that followed, the bitter memories of the past two wars have come to haunt the people. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s stand that his government has a ‘legal and moral obligation’ to support and defend Somalia’s government is dangerously flawed. The best solution to Somalia’s problems is allowing the country to solve its own problems. Interference from Ethiopia or other nosey neighbours and big powers will only exacerbate the crisis. The UN must take a serious note and stop Ethiopians in their tracks, as a matter of first priority now, to be followed by more serious efforts at finding a lasting solution to the troubles in Somalia. Any solution to the Somalian crisis must be rooted in the realities of the land and its people. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wisdom_Seeker Posted December 25, 2006 Well said. But who is ready to listen, not the west that is for sure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
