Ogaden Online (in English) — Editorial

The head of the autocracy in Addis Ababa, Meles Zenawi, went to Nairobi this week to advocate for IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development) authorization of Ethiopian ‘peacekeeping’ forces to be deployed in Somalia. To preempt any positive outcome from the planned peace conference between the Somali Transitional Government (STG) and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) in Sudan, Zenawi convinced his Kenyan host President Mwai Kibaki the need for an IGAD heads of state emergency meeting to be held in Nairobi.

The so-called IGAD emergency meeting was conveniently scheduled to coincide with the conclusion of the Somali peace conference in Sudan. We are glad to see the failure of this Zenawi-led IGAD meeting, since many heads of state stayed away. Ogaden editorial board sees Ethiopian machinations under the guise of IGAD as a blatant interference in the Somali affairs. These Ethiopian plots are nothing more than the efforts of one who is hell-bent on sabotaging any Somali peace efforts.

Zenawi’s obsession with the interference of the Somali affairs is baffling to say the least. At a time when the STG and the UIC have shown flexibility in resolving their differences through dialogue; at a time when Somalis appear to be making progress in establishing semblance of law and order, is it not mind boggling to see the very country — Ethiopia — that sustained anarchy and chaos in Somalia for the past sixteen years to now advocate for the sending of its troops to ‘keep the peace’? Other than adding fuel to an already burning fire, we wonder what peace will Ethiopia keep in Somalia?

The world community should beware of Zenawi’s efforts to undermine Somali peace efforts. The world community should ask Zenawi to keep out of the Somali affairs. IGAD should be wise not to fall for Ethiopian machinations. If Zenawi has troops available for peace keeping, he should be asked to help the thousands of flood victims in his own country. If Ethiopia wants to resolve problems, why not ask this moron of a prime minister to solve the longstanding Ogaden issue.

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