I
read with great interest the article in the Hiiraan Website, by Mr. Nasser M. Issa, in
which he asks:
Is Ethiopia really our number one enemy or not? Is it fair to consider all successive
Ethiopian governments as our foe?
I believe that there has never been the notion that Ethiopia is either permanent or number
one enemy of Somalia. Therefore your question: Is Ethiopia really our number one enemy or
not, the answer is no. Ethiopia is our neighbour and as such, we have no choice, but to
live together in the region. It is said that neighbours are not chosen, like one chooses
his friends or his shirts. Ethiopia is our neighbour, therefore, our two peoples are
destined to live side by side, till doomsday. Your second question, “Is it fair to
consider all successive Ethiopian governments as our foe?
The answer to this question is, so far they were, with bold letters. But as you also said,
nothing is permanent. So, the relations can be adjusted according to the situation that
emerges. We have to root out the cause for this negative answer. Our conflict with
Ethiopia is not based on ideology or political difference. The root cause of the problem
between our two countries is classical colonial case, which needs to be solved through
decolonization process, either by the African Union or the United Nations, or through
peaceful and brotherly means between the two countries. And mind you, as you said
“Ethiopia is the Super Power of the Horn of Africa” and hosting the headquarters
of Africa Union in its territory, it shoulders more responsibility than others, in the
liberation of African territories which are still in foreign domination, including the
territory which Ethiopia itself occupies, namely the Western Somalia or better known as
the Ogaden.
We are now all part of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and with
it, according to its doctrine, “Africa becomes more effective in conflict prevention
and the establishment of enduring peace on the continent”.
It is wonderful, in principle, but how to achieve its objectives if there are still
countries languishing under colonial rule? How can we prevent conflict if there are people
who are still struggling for their freedom? How can a country that colonises another
African territory claim to be working for the prevention of conflict?
No one can deny that Ethiopia is the oldest country in the Horn of Africa or even .of the
Continent of Africa. Only Liberia can share that title with it. But as such, and as an
elder brother, it should have played the role of helping other Africans who were fighting
for their freedom and independence. On the contrary, Ethiopia wanted to be like the white
colonialists, when on April 10, 1891, in his Circular letter to the Heads of European
State Menelek of Abyssinia claimed,
“Ethiopian has been for fourteen centuries a Christian Island in a sea of Pagans. If
Powers at a distance come forward to partition Africa between them, I do not intend to be
an indifferent spectator”.
Menelek’s statement was echoed by the British Queen Victoria’s Special Envoy,
Rennell Rodd, who justified and encouraged Menelek’s colonial attitude, by saying,
“As a Christian African Power, his claims to a sphere of influence were better
founded than those Powers whose seat of Government is in another continent”.
The same Rodd, was the man who handed over the Somali territory known as the Ogaden to
Menelek in 1897. Britain also gave Ethiopia the Haud and Reserved Area in the fifties.
After more than a century, Mr. Nasser said in his article that “Ethiopia is the
oldest independent country in Africa and the un-disputed superpower in the Horn of
Africa”. Mr. Nasser’s statement is almost identical to what Mr. Rodd, the
British Envoy, who gave away Somali territory to Abyssinia, said in 19th century.
After Menelek there was Haile Selassie, who, in a BBC broadcast on August 28, 1966, was
reported to have said among other things, “I would like France to stay in the French
Somali Coast forever.”
Is there any change of attitude or policy by the latest two young Ethiopian leaders,
Mengistu and now Meles towards Somalia? I don’t think so.
Eritrean people liberated themselves from of Ethiopian colonization by force. Eritrea was
given to Ethiopia in 1952 by the United Nations as part of a federation. Ethiopia's
annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a 30-year struggle for
independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean people defeating Mengistu government forces.
While Meles Zenawi is in power, the people of Eritrea solidified their independence in a
referendum in 1993.
I wonder if he wishes to impress the Somalis or to frighten us, Mr. Nasser M. Mussa claims
that Ethiopia is seven times bigger than Somalia. I can only interpret his insinuation
that “it is better for Somalis to stop provoking the Lion of Judah”. How come
then, Eritrea, which is little more than half of Somalia, succeeded to defeat the
“Lion” and to take its independence from Ethiopia, which would be about fourteen
times bigger than it? The answer is, “the right is might” and not the other way
round. The Eritreans were not given their right; they have taken it. Because “the
right is not given; it is taken”, says a colleague of mine. The population of Eritrea
is estimated about 4,447,307 (July 2004), little more than half of the Somali population.
It was their will-power that gave them victory and not their number.
The former Soviet Union used to be called Super Power until it fell apart ten years or so
ago. We have seen what happened to it. Like Ethiopia, the Soviet Union was composed of
various regions, and was the first Super Power to have sent a man to the space. Despite
that, the Chinese Leader, late Chairman Mao Tse Tung, used to call USSR and the USA
“Paper Tigers”. Ten or so years ago, the world has seen USSR shredded like
paper. We have seen former Yugoslavia falling apart. No one can hold people against their
will or by force of gun. Besides, the normal trend is that any Empire will crumble one
day.
The collapse of Ethiopian Empire was miraculously averted by the change of policy of
“the young man”, Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, whose Movement, TPLF, (Tigray
Peoples Liberation Front) was originally fighting for the liberation of its own region,
Tigray, but instead he accepted the advise of some “friends of Ethiopia” to take
the entire country when the fall of Mengistu regime became inevitable.
However, the possibility of Tigray breaking away from the rest of Ethiopia is included in
the Constitution of the country. To prepare the ground for such an eventuality, the old
Imperial system has been abolished and replaced with federal system which could be the
basis for future separation of the region.
Article 39 The Right of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples:
1. Every nation, nationality or people in Ethiopia shall have the unrestricted right to
self determination up to secession.
I am not sure if this Article was meant for the Somali region; however, the Somalis and
other nations like the Oromos, will also invoke it when the right moment comes. As for the
Tigray people, who were struggling for the liberation of their territory for a long time
and lost many lives, are not happy with what few of their men or women are enjoying in the
central Government at the expense of their nationhood.
I heard that it was our vote that gave Ethiopia the advantage to have the Headquarters of
OAU in Addis Ababa, when the African countries had to choose between Cameroon and Ethiopia
in the sixties. If that is so, it was a great political mistake. The Headquarters of the
Organisation for African Unity, now African Union, should have been in a country that does
not colonise territories of others. The criteria for selecting a country should have been,
clean hand; especially in those days when the liberation fever was so high. How could a
country, which colonised others, be part of an organization intended for decolonization of
the continent?
Mr. Nasser also says that “it (Ethiopia) is regarded by the United States as a
crucial partner in the war against terror”. I ask if that is a credential. If so, it
means that the United States must be satisfied with the way “the democracy” is
flourishing in Ethiopia. Remember Manuel Noriega who was Panama's President from 1983 to
1989? He was a “good friend” and “partner” in the fight against what
the United States did not like? He was considered "outstanding" at the SOA,
(School of the Americas).But then what was his end? He was captured from Panama by
American marines and imprisoned in the United States. He was convicted of “drug
trafficking”.
Now-a-days modern governments base their relationship with others on the national interest
of the country; but the past historic relationship is also taken into consideration. If
they were at odds, for instance, the past will be part of history when the two countries
eliminate the root cause of all their hostilities. If Somalis get back their territory
from Ethiopia, like Egypt got back its territory from Israel, there will be no reason why
Somalia and Ethiopia should not have good relationship. When the Israelis withdraw from
the Palestinian territories, which is hoped to be soon, surely the two countries –
Israel and Palestine – will mend their relations from mutual hatred to peaceful
coexistence. That will also bring the normalization of relations between the Arab
countries and Israel.
Here too, Israel, despite their mighty forces, strategic partner of the United States and
forcefully supported by the latter, politically, economically and militarily
“decided” to evacuate their settlements and to withdraw their soldiers from
Palestine. Why? Because they noticed how strong it is the determination of the Palestinian
people to achieve their goal. The Palestinians believe that freedom does not come on a
silver plate, but with blood and sacrifice. Having seen the reality of the situation, the
United States probably told Ariel Sharon that it is in the best interest and for survival
of the Jewish state, to end the occupation of Palestine.
Regarding the foreign forces to be sent to Somalia for peace-making mission, it is only
logic not to include the countries which share border with Somalia, i.e. the Frontline
States. The Iraqis rejected the proposal regarding the forces from the neighbouring
countries to be sent to Iraq for peace-keeping activities. And that is normal. It is
normal that a mediator should enjoy the trust, respect and the support of the people to be
mediated and beyond any doubt, to be a neutral.
I wonder if IGAD has an office that analyses the political differences and sensitivities
between the member countries before taking final decision on important matter, such as
deployment of forces in member countries for peace-making or peace-keeping. Did they, by
any chance, study the relations between various countries in the Organization? Somalia and
Ethiopia and Eritrea and Ethiopia are still at a state of war. How can a Somali let an
Ethiopian soldier to come inside his house? Wouldn’t be possible that an Ethiopian
soldier just shoots and kills a Somali and claims that he acted in self-defense? We are
all members of the same family, but IGAD or by extension the AU surely knows that within
the family there are members who are not in good terms. I do not know whether the IGAD or
AU is deliberately planning for a failure, so that the Somalis could be blamed for it.
If I were the Ethiopian decision-maker, I would have told the Sponsors, whoever it was,
that it is better that the Ethiopian forces are not included, known the sensitivity of the
Somali people vis-à-vis Ethiopia. I would have excused on behalf of the country. IGAD
must know that the presence of Ethiopia on Somali soil will definitely irritate the
population. If that is the hidden agenda, then IGAD is inviting for a renewal of the
conflict in Somalia. May the Almighty forbid that.
The writer of the Article “Improving ties with Ethiopia could benefit Somalia”,
talks of “positive signs in their dealings with Ethiopia” and says, “Both
Puntland and Somaliland” have very close relationship with Ethiopia”. Of course,
it is true what Mr Nasser says, and reason is because the two regions are, in fact,
implementing Ethiopia’s policy of dividing Somalia. They are making it easy for
Ethiopia which has continuously been working for the dismemberment of our country into
clan-stans, which, now-a-days is called “Federal States”. Any group which works
for the balkanization of the country definitely wins the support of Ethiopia. It always
had widely open hands for those Somalis who destabilized the country or oppose whoever
government is in place in Somalia. Since our independence it never gave us a break. Her
policy is that all those who fulfill this agenda win wholehearted support of Addis Ababa
Government.
In the end I wish to say that what is happening in our area or in the third world where
colonialism existed is not of our making. It was done by the colonial powers whose policy
was to let the Africans and Asians be busy fighting each other at the end of their
occupation. But today, the sad and the hard fact is that the same colonial policy is being
applied by Ethiopia, an African, the host of the African Union, on the Somali territory.
It has been arming the Somalis and setting against each other; dividing them and ruling
them.
You see, no one talks about the rebuilding of the country or its development. No one
speaks of the sufferings of the people and how to come out of this abyss of despair and so
on. We only talk about how to destroy each other. The weapons that we use to kill each
other come from same source. And no one asks why are we given the arms and ammunition
which we are using them to kill each other.
Ethiopia used to be a land locked country before it got Eritrea under its control. Now
that it has lost Eritrea it has gone back to its original shape, a land-locked country.
Well, is it said “Kulli shey yarjac ilaa aslu”! It should not be a surprise to
no one, if, within the next two years, we see it going back to what it was before 1897,
when, as the observers predict:
a) Meles will lose power in the center and retires to his own land, Tigray.
b) TPLF will invoke the Article 39 of the constitution that he made.
c) There will a referendum to secede which will approve the secession of Tigray from the
rest of Ethiopia.
d) All others, Somali and Oromo territories and others will follow suit.
e) There will be a new chapter of history in the Horn of Africa.
A new Horn of Africa will emerge where all are friends and brothers and sisters and help
each other in the interest of all the inhabitants of the region.
In the Middle East, the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, wants to go to history as
the man who brought peace for Israel by withdrawing from Palestine. As for Meles, it is a
different case, because he has to open the old file for his region, when he will be out of
office. It is like being between the hammer and the hard place. Can he defend the unity of
Ethiopia and at the same time to be the leader who struggled for the liberation of his own
territory, Tigray? Can he tell his people that Tigray shall stay in the Ethiopia Empire if
and when the group he fought against comes to power in the center? These are hypothetical
questions, but I believe that nothing is static and things might change.
When the root cause of our conflict is removed peace will prevail. We can all benefit from
it. People of the Horn of Africa will be free from fear and conflict. Borders will be open
and people will travel freely to every country in the region and do business in wherever
they wish. Ethiopia will be welcomed to use any port in Somalia for the benefit of the
people of Somalia and that of Ethiopia.
For the time being, Ethiopia’s action speaks for itself.
Mohamed Osman Omar
mosman65@yahoo.com
mosman61@hotmail.com
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