Ethiopia deploys troops on Somali border, accuses Islamists of troubles
Zenawi accuses Somali Islamists of threatening Ethiopia’s stability, deploys troops
Nov 25, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Prime Minister has announced today deployment of the Ethiopian army on the border with Somalia; he accused Islamic courts militias of threatening the stability in the country.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has said Ethiopia has deployed its forces to make sure that the country has adequate forces on the border area between the country and Somalia. The prime minister also said Ethiopia has also been closely following the developments in Somalia.
At a press conference held here Sunday with foreign correspondents at his office, Meles said there have been independent reports of the powerful Islamist movement training, equipping and smuggling of armed opposition elements into Ethiopia.
He further accused the Somali Islamists of pouring troops into frontline positions outside the Ethiopian-backed weak Somali government’s seat. Meles called for international understanding but said he needed no “green light” to fight.
He indicated that this has posed clear and present danger on Ethiopia.
Meles underlined that Ethiopia does not believe the opportunities for a peaceful resolution of this particular problem have been exhausted, adding that it will continue to seek peaceful solutions to the problem caused by the aggressive activities of the “jihadist” leadership.
Nevertheless, he indicated that if the peaceful overtures that Ethiopia has made towards the jihadist leadership do not succeed, the country reserves the right to defend itself and take proportional steps.
“In the event that we fail in our peaceful quest, naturally, we reserve our right to defend ourselves in the face of flagrant violation of our sovereignty and national security” Meles Zenawi said.
The premier said the resolution that Ethiopia’s right to self-defence has to be passed by the parliament and has to be carefully worded to make sure that it is not misunderstood and misinterpreted. He also expressed his belief that the parliament will pass the resolution next week, adding that it would be a consensus resolution by the majority votes in the parliament.
Meles indicated that the Somali Islamists continue to expand within the area of their military presence to the border region with Ethiopia.
The international community fear that all-out conflict in Somalia could engulf the Horn of Africa, drawing Ethiopia and its arch-foe neighbor Eritrea, which is accused of supporting the Islamists.
“We respect their views but because it is our country which is being attacked, naturally we do not seek any light — green, red, amber — from anyone to protect ourselves,” Meles said Saturday.
“The international community should be more supportive of Ethiopia,” he said, asserting as he did to lawmakers on Thursday that his nation faced a “clear and present danger” from the Islamists.
He also maintained that no Ethiopian troops had yet been involved in combat with the Islamists who claim to have attacked several Ethiopian military convoys this week.
“There have been some clashes between elements of the (Somali government) and (the Islamists), minor incidents here and there, but in any case our troops have not been involved,” Meles said.
Asked to comment on the clashes that occurred in the western part of Ethiopia under the pretext of religion, Prime Minister said it was instigated by jihadist elements who had infiltrated into the area. He said the Muslims and Christian communities there took it up for themselves to control the situation to establish peace and stability in the area and to see that the “culprits” are adequately dealt with, in cooperation with the law enforcement agencies. Therefore, Meles said, the incidents do not prove that the traditional tolerance between the various religions in Ethiopia has, in any way, been affected.
(ST)