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US warns Eritrea to stop backing Somalia insurgents

July 29, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – United States today warned Eritrea to stop destabilizing Somalia saying it has very short time to do so or facing UN sanctions.

“There’s a very short window for Eritrea to signal, through its actions, that it wishes (for) a better relationship with the United States and indeed the wider international community,” US’s ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

Rice further said that the United States was “deeply concerned and very frustrated” with Eritrea’s behavior in Somalia, including arming and funding Islamist insurgents.

“It is unacceptable, and we will not tolerate it, and nor will other members of the Security Council,” she said.

“If we do not see signs of that signal in short order, I can assure you that we will be taking appropriate steps with partners in Africa and the Security Council,” she further stressed.

The U.S. accuse Eritrea of arming, supporting and funding the Islamist hard-line Al-Shebab, militia which was designated a terrorist group by Washington in 2008.

Washington also supports the government of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed which is also backed by the UN and the African Union. The US supplied the Somali government with military equipment weapons and ammunition. It further advised Ethiopia to not intervene directly in the ongoing fighting.

Relations between the US and Eritrea have been deteriorated as Asmara accuse Washington of backing its arch-foe Ethiopia in a border dispute with Addis Ababa. Eritrea. Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki last November voiced hope that US president Barack Obama would change his country’s policy in the Horn of Africa.

The African Union and the regional IGAD asked the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Asmara over its alleged support to the Somali insurgency. Also the U.N. Security Council warned Eritrea this month it would consider action against anyone undermining peace in Somalia.

(ST)

1 Comment

  • Samson Shawel Ambaye
    Samson Shawel Ambaye

    US warns Eritrea to stop backing Somalia insurgents
    Ethiopia stretches forth her hands for God.
    Todays terrorists fought for decades against Ethiopia in the name of freedom and independence from their colonial power Ethiopia although it was false agenda of few blood or power thirsty gorilla fighting minded cursed burdens of Africa.

    They took advantage of global changes 18 years ago and the gorilla fighters begun to live their dream. Since they took control of the empty and poorest northern province of Ethiopia, their freedom ambition was turned into the passion of bloodshed everywhere. They waged war against Ethiopia Yemen Sudan Djibouti and Somalia.

    Poorest of poor a population with out enough basic necessities wasted what they have for bloody wars with all of their neighbors.

    International community learned enough that decades of war and bloodshed in the name of freedom and independence was caused to satisfy few power thirst poor and cheap blood thirst trashes.

    International community must not be betrayed and manipulated any more by these trashes while the strategic importance of the region and the precious time of peace lover international community is in need of help.

    Ethiopians suggest Ethiopia’s sea and port to be considered as a forcefully robbed property and be kept in the hand of responsible international community instead of the robber’s blood thirst gorilla fighter terrorists. Because it is not the property of gorilla fighters it is lost and found property.

    Reply
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