From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Thu Oct 22 2009 - 05:15:44 EDT
Djibouti Rejects Alleged Destabilization Role in Somalia
By Peter Clottey
22 October 2009
Djibouti has sharply denied accusations that it played a role in fueling
violence in neighboring Somalia.
Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki blamed Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia for
interfering in Somalia's internal political affairs, which he said has led
to Somalia's instability.
President Afewerki also criticized Washington, saying its preoccupation of
hunting down terror suspects is complicating Somalia's peace process.
The international community has often accused Eritrea of supporting
hard-line Islamic insurgents who have vowed to overthrow the Somali
government.
Ambassador Roble Olhaye Oudine, Djibouti's Permanent Representative to the
United Nations told VOA that Asmara is deflecting accusations of its own
role in destabilizing Somalia.
"I think that is a very self-inflicting statement because he (Afewerki) is
just trying to deflect an ever-growing concern by the international
community about Eritrea's ever-growing involvement in Somalia's internal
affairs," said Ambassador Olhaye Oudine.
He said Asmara has often backed insurgents who are fighting the Somali
government.
"They've been behind the insurgency and fueling chaos and fomenting troubles
and training and arming, funneling, funding, so there are all kinds of
accusations against them," he said.
Ambassador Olhaye Oudine said Asmara is pointing accusing fingers at
neighboring countries.
"Nobody has so far heard this new claim by him (Afewerki) where he accused
not only Djibouti, but he said, if I read his statement correctly, Djibouti,
Ethiopia and Kenya. I think that is the way he put it," Ambassador Olhaye
Oudine said.
He expressed doubt over Asmara's accusation.
"Who is listening to Asmara? Who is giving credibility to Asmara and who is
going to justify that statement? They are saying the obvious (because) what
is accused against them is what they try always to deflect and say on
others," he said.
Ambassador Olhaye Oudine denies Djibouti played a role in destabilizing
Somalia.
"There is nothing to justify that Djibouti is doing anything, and we don't
have to defend ourselves on that because this is the very first statement by
somebody who is indicted and who has been totally accused and condemned of
his activities in Somalia, who is now speaking and hurling countercharges
against other countries," Ambassador Olhaye Oudine said.
He said Asmara's credibility is in question over its accusation.
"We don't need to refute anything because the point is that we refute
allegations from a credible source. This is not a credible source. This is a
source that is tainted. Nobody is listening to unfortunately to Eritrea
today," he said.
Ambassador Olhaye Oudine urged Eritrea to stop meddling in Somalia's
internal affairs.
"The way they have to come clean out of this problem is not by deflecting.
They have to come clean and do what is supposed to be done, and that is take
their hands out of the region and really concentrate on their own issues,"
Ambassador Olhaye Oudine said.
Somalia was plunged into chaos after longtime President Mohammed Siad Barre
was overthrown in 1995.
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