Kenya-Eritrea tensions rise over arming of Somali rebels

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

November 4, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) – Kenya on Friday hinted it might take unspecified measures against Eritrea if it can prove the East African country is arming al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab militants who are currently fighting Kenyan forces in the south of Somalia.

The Kenyan government on Wednesday said that weapons had been flown into al-Shabaab controlled central and southern Somalia this week including a delivery of two plane loads of armaments on Tuesday.

Kenyan authorities did not at first say where the alleged weapons were coming from, however now it seems they are pointing the finger at Eritrea, which has been accused of arming and financing the extremist group in the past.

Kenya’s foreign minister Moses Wetangula on Friday summoned the Eritrean Ambassador in Nairobi, Beyene Russom, over the allegations.

Following the meeting, Wetangula said that the ambassador delivered letters from Eritrea’s foreign minister, who is also expected to come to the Kenyan capital next week for further dialogue in an attempt to diplomatically settle the tension.

Kenya was not ruling out “reviewing diplomatic ties” with Eritrea at this point, the Kenyan minister told the press however he went on to saying that Kenya “has options” if it is proved that Eritrea is behind the weapons supply, refusing to mention what those options could be.

Referring to reviewing ties Wetangula said, “There are always extreme options that any country can take in circumstances that may justify it. As it is now we have not reached that level yet because the ambassador has delivered letters to me from the Eritrean foreign minister wishing to come to Kenya and talk to us.”

The Eritrean government on Wednesday strongly denied the allegations made in the Kenyan and Somali media that they were supporting Al-Shabaab.

‘The government of Eritrea states categorically that these accusations are pure fabrications and outright lies as Eritrea has not sent any arms to Somalia,’ Eritrea’s ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to foreign minister Wetangula, the Eritrean envoy in Friday’s discussion has denied his country was involved in arming the Al-Shabaab, which Kenya and other countries say is a terrorist organisation.

“I have discussed with the ambassador and given him the full details of the allegations and the intelligence we have in our possession. We sought an explanation from him which he provided on behalf of his government. In a nutshell he denied everything as was expected,” Wetangula further said.

According to Kenyan newspaper, the Nation, the Eritrean ambassador, Beyene Russom, didn’t attend the news conference and left immediately. However, when he was reached by phone, Russom told the newspaper that his meeting with the minister was cordial and fruitful.

The meeting at ministerial level next week is expected to determine the future relations between the two countries. The Kenyan minister stressed that, “as a country if we get unsatisfactory explanations and answers from Eritrea then we move to level two.”

The decision to confront al-Shabaab in Somalia was taken by Kenya after a spate of kidnappings and killings along the Kenyan coast and in a refugee camp receiving Somali nationals fleeing famine and conflict.

Al-Shabaab deny involvement in the murders and kidnappings in Kenya.

Eritrea has long been accused of arming al-Shabaab rebels. The country is also accused of continuous interference in the internal affairs of neighboring countries and sponsoring terrorist activities in the Horn of Africa. A UN report recently accused the country of using its embassy in Kenya to bankroll the al-Qaeda-linked Somali rebels.

Eritrea has denied all allegations in the past, saying they are part of a ‘smear campaign’ spearheaded by Ethiopia. Since Eritrea seceded from its larger neighbour, relations have been sour, punctuated by a border conflict that, although stagnant, has not been resolved.

The UN Security Council last year imposed sanctions against the Red Sea nation for supporting hard line Islamic insurgents in Somalia. The sanctions include a travel ban and an assets freeze on its leaders alleged to be breaking an arms blockade on Somalia.

(ST)