Security Council to discuss Eritrea’s Role in Somalia

Mulugeta Alemu

3 August 2007

The August work programme for the Security Council will focus on Africa; Ambassador Pascal Gayama of the Republic of the Congo (ROC) announced on 2 August 2007. The situation in Somalia is one of the countries that will be deliberated on by the Council. On August 13, the Council will hold consultation on Somalia. It is also expected to hold general debate on conflicts in Africa on 28 August 2007. 

Reports from the UN abound regarding the massive military support Eritrea has been providing to Islamists in Mogadishu. The UN Group of Expert monitoring Security Council’s embargo on the movement of arms to Somalia reported in mid-July that Eritrea has been providing massive small and heavy armaments to the extremists in Somalia. These weapons are used for attacking the African Union forces and innocent civilians.

The Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1766 on the 23 July 2007 condemning the inflow of arms to Somalia in contravention of its embargo put in place since 1992 (Resolution 733) and promised to take specific measures to ensure compliance.

Many experts are suggesting that Eritrea’s role in Somalia should be considered during this month session of the Security Council. The Economist (2 August 2007) reported that the Council’s permanent members are increasingly disturbed by the destabilising role of Eritrea in the sub-region. The Chicago Tribune (1 August 2007) projected a grim picture of facts on the ground in Eritrea that the government is using its external meddling to ignore.

Eritrea is almost in every major crisis spot the Council is going to consider this month: Darfur, Somalia and Ethio-Eritrea issue. This comes at a time when many are reading the signs that the UN is coming to closer to censuring Eritrea’s measures. Eritrea’s response to these impending developments is as usual full of bravado and diplomatic naiveté. This week’s strongly worded attack against the UN, posted in Eritrea’s Ministry of Information website on a 1 August 2007 confirms the fact that the Eritrean government has indeed stuck its head deep in hot sand.