Tension between Ethiopia and
                              Somalia is not necessary

Concerned Ethiopians
December 11, 2006


Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch regard the jailed opposition leaders as prisoners of conscience.
We, the undersigned concerned scholars and interested individuals of Ethiopian origin, are extremely dismayed about the current tension between Ethiopia and Somalia. We note that the tension and possible armed conflict may produce calamitous repercussions for people in the Horn of Africa. We see this as a challenge to our socially rooted civil and community patterns and notions of coexistence. We see it as an unfortunate and ill-conceived extension of geopolitical crises that are taking place elsewhere in which Ethiopia and Somalia have no roles or interests.
The ordinary citizens of both Ethiopia and Somalia have had enough of wars and their consequential impoverishment, displacement and lack of prosperity. Unless all peace-loving people avert the war, a crisis of huge magnitude would result both in the maiming and loss of thousands of combatants as well as innocent lives. To say the least, it will disrupt the well-being and livelihoods of millions and millions of others.


The current feuds utilizing of religious, ethnic and clan differences will deprive our societies of the cultural wealth in diversity and life styles that have sustained their peaceful coexistence. Losing such vital foundations and historical legacies of peaceful coexistence across religious and linguistic diversities is not in the interests of our societies. Although we do not want to judge the situation from where we stand, it would be the height of irresponsibility for leaders anywhere in the region to use religion, clan membership and tribalism to drive a wedge on the noble people of Ethiopia and Somalia. Coming on top of the man-made and natural disasters that have already affected all the countries and peoples in the Horn, the consequences of destabilization will be even more intractable. Vulnerable members of society will be further exposed to the vagaries of displacement, poverty and disease, and the existing processes of participatory development, prosperity and regional peace will be stymied.

Whatever the origin of the current tension might be, amplifying it and engaging in active conflict will not be in anybody’s interest in the Horn of Africa. The pressing problems of the region are poverty, including food shortage and famine, illiteracy, disease, and lack of educational and technological know how and resources. The people of Ethiopia and Somalia are among the poorest in the world; their resources are meager and the aid they receive relatively very low. It would be immoral and unconscionable to squander these on enterprises that will only result in death and destruction of the poor while advancing other people’s goals. All peace-loving peoples of the region should choose political compromise and accommodation toward a commonwealth of good neighborliness and a mutual pursuit for political, cultural and economic cooperation.

As concerned scholars and individuals from Ethiopia, we are committed to work for peace and not contribute to furthering the inflammation of tensions with disastrous consequences. We will do everything in our power to engage in constructive and friendly dialogue with people from all of Ethiopia’s neighbors. to seek solutions and alternative sustainable strategies for progressive and peaceful outcomes. We wish to stop the processes that condemn our people to endless wars, forced migration, impoverishment and dependency on handouts, and that victimize especially the young and vulnerable to traffickers or peddlers of religious fundamentalism and divisive clan or tribal affiliations.

The basic rights of people in Ethiopia, Somalia and elsewhere in the Horn, as human beings, include the freedom to live normal and productive lives; not to be victims of incessant war and poverty.

We call on the political authorities in Ethiopia and Somalia to assert this by all means, and to immediately relax the tensions and avoid conflict. We call on peace loving people everywhere to do what they can to refrain from contributing to this tension. We call on all citizens of Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti to refrain from participating in the looming armed confrontation. We call on all progressive people from these countries, including those in the diaspora, to avert it by joining hands to forge a dialogue on constructive and peaceful engagement among all in the region.

Teshome Wagaw, Michigan, USA
Sisay Asefa, Michigan, USA
Teshome Tadesse, Michigan, USA
Erku Yimer, Illinois, USA
Tesfa Mekonnen, Ohio, USA
Tsehai Berhane-Selassie, Ireland
Abate Kassa, New York, USA
Imru Assefa, Michigan, USA
Seyoum Kifle, North Carolina, USA
Araya Amsalu, Indiana, USA
Demelash Dejene, Illinois, USA
Dadimos Haile, Belgium
Imru Zeleke, Maryland, USA
Mesfin Mekonnen, Washington, DC, USA
Abeba Fekade, Maryland, USA
Akalework Kebede, Michigan, USA