Ethiopia’s PM calls on international community to shoulder responsibilities in Somalia
November 28, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian Prime Minister confirmed today from the Yemen the withdrawal of his army from the neighboring troubled Somalia calling on international community to shoulder its responsibilities.
Ethiopia informed the United Nations and the African Union officially of the imminent departure of its troops from Somalia after two years of presence to support the Somali Transitional Government against the Islamic Courts Union at the end of December 2006.
Speaking to the reporters in Sanna on Friday, Meles Zenawi said the Ethiopian army is finalizing preparation to withdraw from Somalia adding it could not stay there indefinitely. He also accused the Eritrean government of supporting the Somali Islamist insurgents.
He further urged the international community to deal seriously with the instability in Somali. He further said that the piracy south of the Red see and along the Gulf of Aden is becoming international threat from that of regional problem.
Jean Ping, the AU chief, said that the Ethiopian troops would remain on the other side of the border and they would intervene whenever there is a need for that. He reassured that they would not abandon completely Somalia.
Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman Wahide Belay said today the troops will pullout in a responsible manner.
However the Islamist insurgents showed scepticism over this announcement saying Ethiopia had pledged in the past to withdraw troops without effect. However, they reaffirmed they determination to fight African peacekeeping troops in the country.
In accordance with a UN sponsored peace agreement signed recently in Djibouti the African peacekeepers (AMISOM) have to takeover security responsibilities, as the signatory parties would from a joint force to become operational.
The Ethiopian decision is seen as a way to pressurize the international community after criticism of human rights and Addis Ababa failure to convince the partners of Somali government to work together.
(ST)