By Scott A Morgan

The voices that are crying out for peace in the long suffering country of Somalia are in danger of being drowned out by the Sabers that are rattling in both Ethiopia and Eritrea. And sadly the world is not paying attention to either problem.

The on again off again efforts to hold peace talks in Somalia have taken a unique twist with both factions the Governing Transitional National Authority and the main armed Opposition the Union of Islamic Courts planning on having their own separate peace talks. The TNG will have their talks in Mogadishu meanwhile the UIC has announced that their efforts will take place in Eritrea.

The talks come at a time where it appears that a new cycle of violence is occurring throughout the country. A weak force from the African Union which is attempting to take over from Ethiopian Forces that intervened several months ago has no teeth in its current mandate. Add to that the reports that the United States is planning on disengaging from Somalia adds to the uncertainty in the current Political Climate.

Another situation that could erupt at any time is the long simmering tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Both countries have traded accusations regarding which country supports which faction in Somalia for some time now. At one point the two neighbors almost came to blows over the intervention into Somalia and have reduced Diplomatic Contacts. There are now reports of a new Arms Race between Addis Ababa and Asmara.

One Country that stands to lose in this scenario is Kenya. There have been cross-border raids into the country seeking food and there have been instances where Kenyan Police have been killed. There is a concerted effort by Nairobi to keep Eritrea involved in the Diplomatic Processes in finding peace in Somalia and in preventing another war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Another loser could be the United States. While the media and the population here are fixed on the violence in Iraq and border security the US could be making a huge Diplomatic Blunder. It is widely believed that Ethiopia intervened in Somalia to further US goals in the War on Terror. IF the US pulls out then it is admitting that it has made both a strategic and a tactical error in the region. And another war in the region only brings that point out in the open.