Ethiopia’s Moral Responsibility

EDITORIAL

In his Thursday press conference, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi mentioned that the threat the Islamic Courts posed to Ethiopia was the main reason he went to war against them. He also added that Ethiopia has no intention of meddling in Somalia’s political affairs, and will leave as soon as his forces have accomplished their mission. Although the Prime Minister’s statement sounds reassuring, it has left out some important facts, foremost among which is the possible consequences of Ethiopia’s intervention on Somalis who are neither part of the Islamic Courts or the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) that was concocted in Imbagathi. A case in point is the statement by the Prime Minister of the TFG, Ali Gedi, in which he implied that Somaliland was part of the ban on air and sea traffic that he had announced. Although Gedi’s statement had no impact on the flow of air and sea traffic to and from Somaliland, it touched a raw nerve in Somaliland. Having brought Gedi and his partner, Abdillahi Yusuf, all the way to the outskirts of Mogadishu, Ethiopia now bears some responsibility for their political behavior, and that was the part that was missing from Prime Minister Zenawi’s press conference.

Furthermore, the militias under Abdillahi Yusuf’s command are ill-disciplined and will be operating in areas inhabited by other clans. Any atrocities committed by these militias will implicate Ethiopia, because it is Ethiopian troops that handed these areas to them after clearing out the Islamic Courts. Mr. Zenawi should keep this in mind. That is why it is very important that he should restrain Gedi, Abdillahi Yusuf and their clan militias.

Source: Somaliland Times

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