From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Aug 28 2009 - 18:06:25 EDT
Yes-US Policy Shift is Needed
Written by Sofia Tesfamariam
Friday, 29 August 2009
http://alenalki.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5905&Itemid=1
I read the 9 August 2009 article "U.S. Policy Shift Needed in the Horn of
Africa" by Ms. Bronwyn E. Bruton of the Council of Foreign Relations with
great interest, as I too believe that a policy change is desperately needed.
There are a few issues raised in her paper that are of concern to me and
would like to comment on them. Before I do that I would like to address some
fundamental errors in her analysis. I call them fundamental errors because,
if the premise is wrong, the definition will be wrong and the solution will
end up being wrong. Unfortunately, on issues relating to Africa, if one
analyst misrepresents the problem in Africa from the get go, others tend to
repeat it for fact and the problem, instead of finding a viable solution
becomes exacerbated with each new analysis, also based on wrong premises.
The problem in Somalia is one such example.
Ms.Bruton begins her analysis with some often-repeated, but erroneous,
statements which have been used to justify Ethiopia's conduct in the Horn of
Africa and especially on issues relating to Ethiopia and Somalia. Like all
other analysts before her, she writes about the "fears" of the minority
regime in Ethiopia. Bruton describes these "fears" as:
".the renewal of Somali irredentist claims on its eastern border, or that a
powerful Islamist movement may stoke unrest among its own large Muslim
population, and feels beset both by a powerful indigenous separatist
movement in its Ogaden region and an unresolved border dispute with its
northern neighbor, Eritrea."
First of all, to talk about the issue of Somali irredentist claims today is
not only a tired convenient diversion, but is also an insult to a people who
are struggling to reconstitute their country which is slowly and
systematically being Balkanized.
Even back then, Somalis never claimed sovereignty over adjacent
territories-former British and Italian colonies-the Ogaden, Djibouti and the
Northern Frontier Districts in Kenya. Somalis only called for Somalis to be
granted the right to self determination-opportunity to decide for themselves
what their status should be. It is also a right recognized by the UN Charter
and one that has been placed in the Ethiopian Constitution.
Misrepresenting "Somali irredentism" is a diversion that emboldens the
minority regime in Ethiopia to violate Somalia's sovereignty and territorial
integrity and international law, with impunity. Somalia was never a threat
and has never been a threat to Ethiopia-it is a myth perpetuated by
successive Ethiopian regimes and their handlers, to justify their meddling
in Somalia's internal affairs. If it was a real problem it would have
affected Kenya and Djibouti alike, but it is not. It is a myth perpetuated
by Ethiophyles, to justify support for Ethiopia's aggression in Somalia.
As for the unrest in Ethiopia, it is the ethnic policies of the regime in
power that has marginalized large populations in the Ogaden and Oromia
regions that is stoking the unrest and it is not in anyway related to the
type of government in Somalia. As I said earlier, all successive Ethiopian
regimes used that excuse to justify Ethiopia's interference in the internal
affairs of Somalia. The genocide and other crimes that are being committed
against the people of the Ogaden region of Ethiopia have been documented by
rights groups everywhere. In addition, the groups, such as the Ogaden
National Liberation Front, which is fighting for the rights of the Ogadeni
people, is one of the groups that fought alongside the TPLF regime to oust
the previous Derg regime in Ethiopia. They are not seeking to secede from
Ethiopia. They just want to be treated as equal citizens in the country and
want their people to benefit from the oil and other resources in the Ogaden
region.
Bruton is mistaken on the Eritrea Ethiopia border issue. The Eritrea
Ethiopia border issue has been resolved. It was resolved through legal
arbitration on 13 April 2002 when the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission
(EEBC) delivered its Final and Binding delimitation decision. On November
2007, in fulfillment of its mandate to demarcate the Eritrea Ethiopia
border, the EEBC demarcated the border virtually, using coordinates on maps.
The Commission has since been disbanded as it has completed its work. What
remains is the removal of Ethiopian forces from sovereign Eritrean
territories, including Badme.
Furthermore, the continued, but wrong, assumption that the Eritrea Ethiopia
border issue is somehow related to Eritrea's position on Somalia is another
mistake made by Bruton in her analysis. Eritrea's principled position
pre-dates the Eritrea Ethiopia border conflict. It is a principled position
that has guided Eritrea's stand on Somalia since the downfall of the Siad
Barre government. It is one that was expressed to the Bush and Clinton
Administrations in the early 90s, the George Bush Administration and now the
Obama Administration. Eritrea's position on Somalia has been consistent and
clear from day one:
Eritrea will not recognize any Transitional Federal Government for Somalia
(TFG)
that is brought about through exclusive, partial processes;
Eritrea is not in the business of extending military support to any faction;
Eritrea will not endorse any group that has links with terrorism if that is
true and verifiable; (Eritrea is one of Al Qaeda's first victims. It should
be noted here that it is Ethiopia that supports terrorist groups, such as
the Eritrean Islamic Jihad, that have committed terrorist acts in the border
areas. It is part of the Eritrean Alliance, an "opposition group"
established in Ethiopia by Meles Zenawi.
Eritrea believes that a solution to Somalia lies in a comprehensive and
inclusive political process where any group that has substantial
constituency in Somalia is not excluded on the basis of unsubstantiated and
unverifiable allegations or linkages with extremism.
Ms. Bruton has correctly said that there is no evidence to support the
allegations made against Eritrea by the Ethiopian regime and its handlers in
the Bush Administration. It should be recalled that Jendayi E. Frazier had
tried unsuccessfully to peddle a fabricated unsubstantiated UN Report on
Eritrea in her attempts to have Eritrea placed on the US list of countries
that sponsor terror.
This vindictive individual who served more as the spokesperson, cheerleader
and confidante of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia than as the US Secretary of
State for African Affairs, compromising her neutrality and credibility and
US interests in the region. She provided the diplomatic, financial, and
military shield and support for the minority regime in Ethiopia as it
violated international law, committed international crimes against the
people of Somalia and Ethiopia and violated the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of its neighbors. More Africans have suffered and thousands have
died under her leadership a Bureau of African Affairs plagued by corruption
and incompetence. Jendayi E. Frazier single handedly destroyed any chance
for peace in Somalia by planning and executing the Ethiopian invasion and
occupation of Somalia to oust the Union of Islamic Courts and Sheikh Sharif
Ahmed to install the warlords Abdulahi Yusuf and Ali Mohammed Ghedi.
Bruton alluded to the recent statements made by Hilary Clinton, the US
Secretary of State in which she accused Eritrea of "violating the Somali
peoples right to self determination", amongst other things. This is not the
first time that the Secretary of State has misspoken and it will not be the
last time as she has a lot to learn about the Horn of Africa and especially
Somalia. Her accusations against Eritrea are not only hypocritical; they are
a futile attempt to cover up the mistakes made by successive US
Administrations in Somalia, including the Clinton Administration. The deaths
and destructions in Somalia today and the inability of the Somali people to
come together and resolve their issues is directly linked to US and
Ethiopian interference and meddling in the internal affairs of Somalia for
the last 18 years.
The imposition of so-called "UN recognized" Somali governments established
by external forces, the presence of the African Union's "stabilization
forces" and other mercenary forces on sovereign Somali territories, against
the wishes and aspirations of the Somali people and in violation of
Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the continued funneling
of deadly arms to various Somali factions, remain the main problems in
Somalia. The US should respect the UN Embargo on Somalia and stop funneling
arms to Somalia under any pre-text if it wants to curb the violence and
destruction in Somalia. Washington's racist, Islam-phobic and incoherent
policy on Somalia is directly linked to the "Somali on Somali" crimes being
committed in Somalia today.
Ignoring and covering up the minority regime's crimes against the Ethiopian
and Somali people, its numerous violations of international law and UN
resolutions and continued occupation of sovereign Eritrean territories,
including Badme, has greatly undermined US reputation and credibility in the
Horn of Africa. It has also increased anti-American sentiment in the region
as Bruton correctly noted. These mistakes will negatively affect US
relations in the Greater Horn region and beyond. The Obama regime must rein
in the minority regime in Ethiopia led by Meles Zenawi, the only terrorist
lurking in the Horn of Africa and stop providing it the diplomatic,
financial and military shield and support it was accustomed to getting from
the Bush Administration and Jendayi E. Frazier.
In discussing the domestic problems in Ethiopia, Bruton writes about the
perception f the Ethiopian people saying:
".The government's ruling party, the Ethiopian People Revolutionary
Democratic Front (EPRDF), is perceived by many Ethiopians to be dominated by
a single minority ethnic faction, the Tigre, and its consolidation of
political power may be read as an assault on the majority ethnic Amharic and
Oromo populations. Public dissatisfaction with the government is high in the
wake of the 2005 elections and a violent explosion is not out of the
question."
This is not merely a perception; it is indeed a fact that is easily proven.
All of Ethiopia's major institutions are run by Tigrayans. Professor Mesfin
Wolde Mariam, Chairman of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRC),
opposition member who was jailed on trumped up charges of "inciting
genocide" has in the past aptly described Meles' regime as being:
" . an ethnic-based federation. dominated by the minority ethnic Tigrayans.
the federal structure in effect divides and rules larger ethnic groups such
as the Oromos and Amharas and bars non-members of the Tigrayan People's
Liberation Front."
Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam is not biased when he says that the Meles
regime is dominated by the minority ethnic Tigrayans. He is just stating the
facts as he and other Ethiopians know them to be.
Key and most important government posts are held by Tigrayans. The Prime
Minister is Tigrayan, so is the Foreign Minister, Chief of Police, Chief of
Staff, Chief of Security, Mayor of Addis Abeba (even though he was voted out
of office), Minister of Federal Affairs and his Deputy, even the Patriarch
of the Orthodox Church is Tigrayan. In the diplomatic arena, most important
Ambassadorial posts are held by Tigrayans or are deliberately staffed by
hand picked Tigrayan cadres to act as de facto Ambassadors.
As I have stated many times in the past real power in Ethiopia is now in the
hands of 7 Tigrayans. As a matter of fact, the most influential, important
and key Ministries in Ethiopia are directly and fully controlled, run,
supervised and monitored by these 7 Tigrayans: Meles Zenawi, Samora Younis,
Abay Tsehaye, Mulugeta Alemseged, Newaye-Kiristos Gebre-Ab, Seyoum Mesfin
and last but not least, Bereket Simon, a de facto Tigrayan. Let us take a
look at the facts again:
Meles Zenawi, the Tigrayan Prime Minister, as Commander in Chief of the
Ethiopian Armed Forces with the Tigrayan General Samora Younis as his Chief
of Staff, has absolute control of the Ethiopian army. Therefore, Kuma
Demekesa, from the Oromo ethnic group, is essentially a figurehead with a
Defense Minister title- but no bite.
Abay Tsehaye, founding member of TPLF, as Public Organization and
Participation Advisor to the Prime Minister with the Rank of Minister,
according to the new consolidated structure, controls, monitors, supervises
and runs the so-called Ministry of Federal Affairs. It's Minister, Siraj
Fegeta, from the Silte (Gurage) ethnic group, reports directly to Abay
Tsehaye.
Mulugeta Alemseged, a senior member of the TPLF, as National Security
Affairs Advisor with the Rank of Minister controls, monitors, supervises and
runs the entire police and security apparatus in Ethiopia. As the National
Security Advisor, he is in charge of producing "intelligence" and "security"
reports to Meles
Newaye-Kiristos Gebre-Ab, a Tigrayan from Meles' village of Adwa, as
Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister with the Rank of Minister controls,
monitors, supervises and runs all Ministries associated with economic
matters, in particular the Ministries of Finance, Revenue, Trade and
Industry, Transportation, Mines and Energy etc. etc. Therefore Sufian Ahmed,
Minister Finance and Economic Development, an Oromo; Melaku Fenta, Minister
of Revenue, an Amhara; Girma Biru, Minister of Trade and Industry an Oromo;
Junedi Sado, Minister of Transport and Communications, also an Oromo;
Alemayehu Tegenu, Minister Mines and Energy another Oromo; all report to
Newaye-Kristos Gebre-Ab.
Seyoum Mesfin, another Tigrayan, is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Because
he is a trusted Meles disciple, there was no need to create a "Foreign
Policy Advisor position with the Rank of a Minister" in the Prime Minister's
Office. It should be recalled that Seyoum Mesfin served as TPLF's Foreign
Minister for 14 years and has been Ethiopia's Foreign Minister since TPLF
took over Ethiopia in 1991.
Bereket Simon, (listed as an Amhara), but more TPLF than TPLF itself, as
Public Relations Advisor to the Prime Minister with the Rank of Minister
controls, monitors, supervises and runs the Ministry of Information. Berhan
Hailu, Minister of Information, an Amhara, therefore, reports directly to
Bereket Simon.
Power has been solidified and consolidated in the hands of Tigrayans. This
"supra" body completely dominated by the Tigrayan clique, under the guise of
"Advisors with Ranks of Ministers", is now ruling Ethiopia with an even
tighter and ruthless iron fist, and is pursuing the policies of kill,
imprison, intimidate, vilify etc, so that it can remain in power, by any
means necessary. As for the Ethiopian Afar, Gurage, Hadiya and Somali etc.
whilst they may hold high positions in the Ethiopian Government, they are
all controlled, monitored, supervised and run by Tigrayans.
Moreover, Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) members and their families
control the transportation, manufacturing and several other industries in
Ethiopia. Tigray region is also the single highest beneficiary of the
massive aid and loan guarantees that is being given to Ethiopia by the IMF,
World Bank and international donors. Schools, colleges, roads, airports,
factories, and other infrastructure projects are carried out in the Tigray
state while the rest of Ethiopia is ignored, and massive debts are incurred,
in the name of the Ethiopian people. The new form of Apartheid that defines
Ethiopia today has systematically alienated and deprived the Ethiopian
people of their equal rights. It is designed to divide and rule the people
of Ethiopia and render them hopeless and helpless.
The Obama Administration should overhaul US policy for the Horn of Africa
and discard the deadly policies of the Bush Administration in the Horn of
Africa if it wants to salvage its already fledgling reputation and
credibility advance US interests. It can begin by:
Putting an end to the decade's long policy of appeasement of Ethiopia and
its reckless leaders by enforcing the rule of law as well as the UN and
African Union Charters.
Calling on the minority regime in Ethiopia to unconditionally vacate from
sovereign Eritrean territories, including Badme that it is militarily
occupying in violation of the Algiers Agreements and the Eritrea Ethiopia
Boundary Commission's delimitation and demarcation decisions. The US, EU and
the UN as witnesses and guarantors of the Algiers Agreements must shoulder
their legal and moral obligations and enforce the EEBC's decisions.
Urging the minority regime in Ethiopia to unconditionally withdraw ALL its
forces from sovereign Somali territories and stop arming warring Somali
factions that have killed thousands of innocent Somalis and displaced
millions more and allow the Somali people to choose their own leaders. It
should also stop sending deadly arms to Somalia.
Stopping the killings and gross human rights violations in Ethiopia being
committed by Meles Zenawi's apartheid regime. The US-led international
community should investigate and take punitive actions against the regime
for the international crimes of genocides and ethnic cleansing in the
Gambela, Oromia and Ogaden regions of Ethiopia.
Respecting the rights of the people of Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia to
fulfill their aspirations and dreams without external interference and
force.
The rule of law must prevail over the law of the jungle!
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