Commentary on Horn Politics:Shaibya's cry against the USA
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Zeru Hagos
(11/2/06)
The Shaibya Government in Eritrea is desperate for attention. Since it came to power with the help of an ally, the TPLF, it has tried to be noticed through brute force of diplomacy. It tired such method with Yemen, Sudan, Ethiopia even tiny Djibouti by trying to invade each country's territory in the late 1990's. Although it is not for what Shaibya has hopped for, Eritrea today is noticed, albeit as one sad story country. It has no constitution, no institution and is in dire economic condition. No wonder then the Shaibya government has decided to make a friend with another country that has no institution, no functional government and with no significant economic life. That country is Somalia!
The Shaibya government of Eritrea is criticizing the United State Government for its policy in the Horn of Africa almost daily these days. This from a government that built its main and huge military training facility, Sawa, with the help of the United States of America. The US foreign policy for the Horn of Africa has not change a bit since President Isayas Afeworki during one of his many visits to the States was heralded as the "African George Washington". What has changed is Shaibya's fortune and no one but the dictator himself is the source for such misfortune.
The president miscalculated his friendship with the US as an insurance,in case things did not go his way, when he invaded sovereign territory of Ethiopia . He had hoped the US would save him if the war tilts against his regime and his tiny country.It is arguable if the US has indeed saved him during the last war but what is not arguable is the Ethiopian government did not succumb to his demand and the war has indeed left him with a deep wound. The wound seems to be healing therefore why many are asking... Should the Ethiopian government have allowed Shaibya unfettered access to Somalia and any immediate neighbor country for long? Should we discuss now if the Ethiopian government made a mistake to stop the last war half way?
The Ethiopian-Eritrean war should not have been fought. Both people suffered immensely. Both countries spent huge sum of their meager source on wasted armaments. This being the truth, nevertheless, the war has brought relative peace by curtailing Shaibya's ambition. This is evident today, unlike yesterday Shaibya is not claiming the sun is not going to set over Badme nor will it rise if he does not get Badme! Shaibya today knows its limitation and ability. Its ability is to hire mercenaries and cajole terrorist to do the dirty work on its behalf.
The Callous disregard president Isayas showed to US envoys coupled with his amateurish character has caused the US to forget all about Shaibya and Eritrea. Shaibya may say otherwise but the US has the same policy as it has in 1997. The US is trying to deny future terrorist a base in the Horn of Africa countries period. The US went to Sawa/Eritrea to preempt terrorist from taking over the Sudan in the early nineties and today it is in Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia to deny any future terrorist a safe heaven in Somalia and else where.
Certainly the fate of Shaibya is written all over the wall for those willing to see. The world community has shun the Eritrean government for its flagrant human right violation on its own citizens.Eritreans be they Christians or Moslems are not allowed to exercise their religion and jailed citizens are not allowed due process. Facing such outright affront to their humanity today the Eritrean people allover the world are demonstrating against the dictator's government. The once fractured opposition groups are becoming more united. Realizing this the Shaibya government is trying to stir away the focus by causing trouble in neighbor countries when ever opportunity avails.
Shaibya is involved in Darfur Sudan's problematic region. And it is helping organizing the dysfunctional opposition to the Ethiopia government in Asmara. Shaibya knows Eritrea will not benefit an iota by the misfortunes of another countries. What it is hoping is for the world to notice that it is still relevant. Relevant or not, the Ethiopian government needs to pay close attention and realize the source of the current problem Ethiopia is facing today is none other than Shaibya. The same Shaibya we had cornered some five years ago for a kill!
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