_{Africa Diary — Volume 1, Issue 25 (December 16th-22nd ’61) pg. 294; synthesis of reports by East Africa Standard in Nairobi and Ethiopian Herald in Addis Ababa}

Britain will supply arms to Somalia, an authoritative source said in Ethiopia on Nov. 28. He said the value of the offer, which has been made jointly with Italy, was £300,000. Somalia had not yet officially accepted the offer.

Somalia now receives Egyptian military aid. Britain and Italy were reported to have been perturbed by reports that Somalia had received offers of military aid from the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and China. They were understood to have made their offer to forestall the Communist powers.

The East African Standard of Nairobi reported that the Ethiopian Acting Foreign Minister, Mr. Ketema Yifru, has verbally expressed his Government’s “displeasure” to the British Ambassador in Addis Ababa, Sir Dennis Wright and to the Italian Ambassador. Ethiopia has always been wary of Somali “expansionist policy”. There is a long-standing border dispute between the two countries and periodical skirmishes.

Ethiopian newspapers sharply criticised the reported offer of arms to Somalia. The Ethiopian Herald said it saw no justification for arming Somalia because:

“Somalia is menaced neither from within nor from without. Somalia’s need is economic not military. Hence what is this military venture for?”

The arms offer did not frighten Ethiopia, the paper said, because:

“Ethiopia has adequate stockpiles for defence.”

Sowing seeds of discontent on the Horn of Africa appeared to be unquestioned imperialist policy it alleged.

The Anglo-Italian offer appeared to be an attempt to start an arms race in East Africa:

“Is it intended to turn Somalia into another Katanga? One Tshombe is bad enough for Africa. Ethiopia is not so much concerned over the offer as over the motive behind it.”

Was it an attempt to blackmail Ethiopia? it asked.