US do not support new Ethiopian intervention in Somalia
July 5, 2009 (Addis Ababa) – The United States do not recommend the intervention of Ethiopian troops in the neighboring Somalia despite the recent call by the Somali government for military support.
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, who would pay a visit to Addis Ababa on Monday said such intervention could be “counterproductive” to the Somali government. He fears that this would increase the popularity of the Islamist insurgency.
In an interview with Reuters the American diplomat explained his position by the “long-standing enmity between Somalis and Ethiopians.”
However the US official confirmed the Ethiopian concern after the recent developments in Mogadishu. “The Ethiopian government continues to look very closely at developments in Somalia,” he said.
He further added Ethiopia has the right to defend its territory if individuals cross the border saying Ethiopia’s efforts should be directed at defence of their territory and not necessarily involvement inside of Somalia.”
Carson statements define the position of the new American administration on the Horn of Africa and Somalia particularly. Last week, Washington announced a direct military support to the Somali government.
“This will include military support in terms of arms and munitions and material resources, but not manpower,” said Carson.
The administration of the former President Bush had supported for a while the Ethiopian role in Somalia. Some other western countries like France, which has significant military presence in Djibouti as the US, participate already in the training of the Somali army.
Following calls last month by the speaker of the Somali parliament for military intervention of neighboring countries, Ethiopia said it needs international mandate to send troops to Somalia to fight Islamists rebels.
However many reports mentioned the presence of Ethiopian troops among the forces loyal to the government. Nonetheless, Addis Ababa spoke only about “reconnaissance” missions and denied any military presence inside Somalia.
(ST)
Samson Shawel Ambaye
US do not support new Ethiopian intervention in Somalia
What kind of peace can Ethiopia’s criminal troops bring after being lead by a criminal leader and committing the following crime?
Ethiopian Indigenous Victims of Corporate and Government Resource
Magazine Online, Source: ProjectCensored May 2004, Author: keith harmon snow
……….According to Anuak sources relying on sympathetic oppositionists within the regime, the EPRDF plans to procure the petroleum of Gambella were laid out at a top-level cabinet meeting in Addis Ababa (the capital of Ethiopia) in September 2003. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi chaired the meeting, at which the militant ethnic cleansing of the Anuaks was reportedly openly discussed. December 13, 2003 marked the start of a coordinated military operation to systematically eliminate Anuaks. Sources from inside the military government’s police and intelligence network say that the code name of the military operation was: “OPERATION SUNNY MOUNTAIN.” ……………….
As of November 4, 2004, at least 1,500 and perhaps as many as 2,500 Anuak civilians have died in the recent fighting. Intellectuals, leaders, students and other educated classes have been intentionally targeted. Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for and many have mysteriously “disappeared.” Thousands and perhaps tens of thousands of Anuak homes have reportedly been burned.
The Anuak men have been killed, arrested, or displaced, leaving thousands of women and children vulnerable. Anuak women and girls are routinely raped, gang-raped and kept as sexual slaves by EPRDF forces, often at gunpoint. Girls have been shot for resisting rape, and summary executions for girls held captive for prolonged periods as sexual slaves have been reported. Reports from non-Anuak police officials in Gambella indicate an average of up to seven rapes per day. Due to the isolation of women and girls in rural areas, rapes remain under-reported. Some 6,000 to 8,000 Anuak remain at refugee camps in Pochalla, Sudan, and there are an estimated 1,000 annual refugees in Kenya. In August 2004, approximately 25 percent (roughly 50,000 people) of Gambella’s population had been displaced………To the Anuak and other indigenous peoples of southwestern Ethiopia, the government of Prime minister Meles Zenawi is a ruthless military dictatorship.