Moving Along: What needs to be done in Somalia

(Aigaforum Dec 27, 2006)

We thank  the Somalis for the  good will they have shown towards our defense forces who cross the international boundary line in hot pursuit of international terrorist and Shaiby(Eritrean govt soldiers) hiding behind women skirts. The Ethiopian forces were forced to start the counter offensive after exhaustive discussion with the UIC leadership who at the end chose to continue harboring these terrorist instead of making peace. Today Ethiopian forces along with TFG forces have encircled Mogadishu the bastion of these terrorists.

 Mogadishu home to two million people needs to be spared. We ask all sides to spare this beautiful city.  If thenewsof the resignation of the extreme leaders is true, the transitional government must allow negotiation to start immediately. The UIC must help in apprehending all foreign mercenaries and terrorist cells that it knows. The Ethiopian forces must leave no stone unturned to evict terrorist and Shaibya foot soldiers from Mogadishu and else where. Ethiopia can not keep bleeding. A final closure is a must and as such all Somali factions must sign on the dotted line not to allow enemies of Ethiopia in their soil.

Many Ethiopians with good intention think the problem child for the horn is Isayas Afeworki regime in Eritrea. We can not agree more. But we also think Ethiopia can ill afford another Somalia on its northern border. Until Eritreans realize their country is going down with this dictator there is noting Ethiopia can do. Absent of Isayas Afeworki, Eritrea is surely to be another Somalia and Asmara another Mogadishu. So for better or worst, short of Isayas Afeworki starting another war forcing Ethiopia to engage him and remove him from power, Eritrea under Isayas Afeworki may be a better choice to have at the moment.  

We think the current turn of event in Somalia will go a long way in shaping the future of the Horn of Africa. In a poor third world neighbor hood, unless diplomacy is used with show of force and democracy under a determined and progressive government, the result is a zero sum game. Ethiopia, unfortunately, has been clapping in one hand for too long to bring peace in the horn. The Ethiopian government seems to have realized what ever policy it was using for Eritrea and Somalia it was not working. It is not too late also to tell the other neighboring countries that Ethiopia can not keep bleeding by insurgents and terrorists based in their countries. The Ethiopia government should tell them in no uncertain term to guard their borders from being used as conduit by shaibya sponsored terrorists.Enough we say enough!