Ethiopia, US jointly working for peace in Africa – Ambassador

August 28, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia and the United States are working together towards ensuring peace and stability in the African continent, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the United States said Saturday.

Ethiopia is considered as a key US ally in the Overseas Contingency Operation (OCO) mainly in curbing threats and insecurity in Somalia where al-Qaeda linked Islamic militant group Al-Shabab is battling the weak Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

Speaking to the official Ethiopia News Agency (ENA), Ambassador Girma Birru said both countries are working together in conflict prevention and to build a sound basis for sustainable peace in the continent and particularly in the volatile region of East Africa.

In 2006 US-backed Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia to oust an Islamist movement which became a direct challenge to the authority of the UN-backed interim government.

Ethiopia’s invasion in Somalia became unpopular and was considered by political analysts as an mission pushed for by the US administration. However Addis Ababa defended itself saying it was forced to send troops to Somalia because it faced a direct threat to its own borders.

(ST)