Ethiopia faced with tough decisions in Somalia
Supporting Somaliland is often seen as the best solution in Addis Ababa as well as in Nairobi
Despite the swift collapse of the Islamists forces almost ten months ago, Addis Ababa remains in an awkward position as the transitional Somali government’s Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi recently resigned from his post.
Analysts say Ethiopia has various cards to play in Somalia since it has a range of partners, but almost all of the moves will end up displeasing another Ethiopian ally in the anarchic Somalia. At the center of it all is the breakaway Somaliland region in the north that is seeking UN recognition.
Supporting Somaliland is often seen as the best solution in Addis Ababa as well as in Nairobi, since even a non-Islamist stable central government in Mogadishu can end up seeking the much feared irredentism policies in the long term. Also, Somaliland’s staunch cooperation with Ethiopia against the ONLF rebels is seen to give Somaliland the edge over Puntland.
Meanwhile, Puntland is the biggest source of man power for Ethiopian troops and for the pro-Ethiopia but weak transitional government of President Abdullahi Yusuf. Thus the tangled situation makes it a challenge for Addis Ababa to fully support Somaliland, as Hargeisa also battles pro-Puntland militias to take over disputed territories in the north. Some sources are stating that Ethiopia is trying to diversify away from its overdependence on Puntland and on President Abdullahi Yusuf, by seeking a more powerful anti-Islamist Hawiye leadership in Mogadishu. This indirectly helps bring balanced clan representation in the TFG while at the same time giving Ethiopia a non-Darood powerful ally in the south as Ethiopia eventually seeks to strengthen its ties with Somaliland.
Source Jimma Times
Read: 944 Date:2007-10-31
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