Ethiopia is ready for any eventuality with Somali Islamists – PM

Oct 20, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Ethiopian premier has said that the country is «ready for any eventuality” if Somalia’s Islamists attacked. He claimed that “jihadists” had amassed troops along Somalia’s common border and urged his military to “monitor the issue closely”.

Speaking in parliament while presenting his state of the nation address, Meles Zenawi Thursday denied that the Ethiopian army was in Somalia. According to Zenawi, the only Ethiopian troops in Somalia were military officers training the Somali police force.

He denied that relations with Somalia were strained, pointing that the only sour ties were those between Ethiopia and what he termed “jihadists gathered around the Union of Islamic Courts”. According to Zenawi, these jihadists were from Pakistan, Indonesia and “several Arabic and African countries”.

The following is an excerpt from Zenawi’s speech related to relations with Somali on 19 October before the Ethiopian parliament.

ETHIOPIAN SOMALI RELATIONS

“There are even rumours that the Ethiopian army has entered into Somali territory. If this is true, how did it happen without the permission of this parliament? These are some of the questions, which were raised.”

First and foremost, according to my understanding, our relations with Somalia have never been strained. The only government, which has international recognition in Somalia, is the Transitional Federal Government, which is led by President Abdullahi Yusuf. This is the government, which is recognized by both the UN and AU. Our relations with this government are not strained. In fact, we have strong and friendly relations. When it comes to the people, we have no quarrels with the Somali people; they are our neighbours; they are a brotherly people.

We are not for strained relations with the Somali people, and we have never had any. The only strained relations we have are with some jihadists gathered around the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). All jihadists are not Somalis. The jihadists gathered in Somalia are from Indonesia, Pakistan and from several Arabic and African countries. These jihadists continuously declare jihad on Ethiopia but it should not be said that our relations with Somalia are strained.

Our relations with the Somali government and people are not estranged.

ETHIOPIAN TROOPS IN SOMALIA

Regarding claims that the Ethiopian army has crossed the Ethiopian border, as it is being alleged repeatedly, the only military personnel who have entered Somalia are those training the TFG’s army and police. These military personnel always carry arms to defend themselves during the training period. They just cannot walk around empty-handed. Therefore, the Ethiopian army has not crossed into Somalia for any other purpose other than conduct this training.

We have not declared war on the Somali government. We have also not declared war on the Somali people. In fact, we have agreed to work jointly with the Somali government and people. So our army, acting on the basis of international resolutions, has only entered Somalia to give support and training.

WAR WITH SOMALI ISLAMISTS NOT UNDER OUR COMTROL

The other question is what does the future portend. As the parliament is aware, jihadists continue to officially and publicly declare war on Ethiopia. We have the right to defend against attacks from these people. Since they have not yet shot at us, we have preferred to handle the issue with patience. However, there is danger looming. The jihadists are amassing their forces near our borders. They have been amassing their forces at a Somali area called Kaliber, which lies between 15 and 20 km from Ferfer [south-eastern Ethiopia]. If this activity continues, and is found to threaten our national security, then our defence forces will have the right and obligation to defend [the country].

However, that does not mean that we will declare war. There are some people who have already declared war [on Ethiopia], and when these people launch an attack, we will have the right and obligation to defend ourselves. We cannot say that we have reached that stage now. I cannot tell or promise this parliament that this will not happen. It is not under our control since those declaring war on us are doing so on a daily basis. They are also amassing their forces close to our borders.

We should instead monitor the issue closely and with care. We should also be ready for any eventuality and take the necessary action to defend ourselves.

I would like to assure this House that the government is ready regarding this issue.

(ST)