The State of Eritrea
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Newspapers in Kenya published stories on Tuesday accusing Eritrea of delivering weapons to AI Shabab in Somalia. The claims were been variously attributed to "one high-ranking East African official," "some officials," "internet sources," and "a Somali politician."
The Government of Eritrea states categorically that these accusations are pure fabrications and outright lies as Eritrea has not sent any arms to Somalia. Moreover, Eritrea has consistently maintained, and on the record, that "there can be no military solution to the problem of Somalia." Instead, it has been repeatedly calling for "a Somali-owned political process, inclusive of Somaliland, Puntland and all other key stakeholders." Eritrea's sole interest in Somalia is to see peace and stability return to this important Horn of Africa country and an end to the suffering of the Somali people.
In its comprehensive response to the United Nations Monitoring Group Report, Eritrea has conclusively shown that there is no evidence to support claims of Eritrean financial backing to AI Shabab, the Monitoring Group itself having acknowledged that it had no proof of any Eritrean military involvement, including arms supplies, in Somalia. Claims of Eritrean backing for AI Shabaab are indeed preposterous not only because of Eritrea's political stance but also because of AI Shabab's deep antipathy towards the "secular Eritrean state."
Tuesday's baseless accusations are the latest product of a disinformation campaign orchestrated to undermine Eritrea and frustrate its constructive regional and international engagement. Chief among the authors of this campaign is Ethiopia, which is not only occupying sovereign Eritrean territory, in violation of international law and UN Security Council Resolutions, but is also the main cause of destabilization in the Horn of Africa. It is also Ethiopia that is leading the effort to block Eritrea's reactivation of its activities in the sub-regional organization, IGAD.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, November 2, 2011
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