By Dalmar Kaahin

From the start, as soon as it became clear that the deposed Islamic Court Union I.C.U of Somalia was unwilling to budge on the U.S. demands of giving up its [I.C.U] opposition to the foreign-imposed Somali regime, the U.S. rather than create peace in Somalia, it [U.S.] focused on only one thing: how to divide the I.C.U along “moderates” and “extremists”.

And no sooner the I. C.U leaders fled the country—to evade the invading Ethiopian troops—than the U.S. recruited Sheekh Shariif—the top leader of the I.C.U. She Shariif was captured near the Somali-Kenyan border. And the U.S. ambassador to Kenyan had a meeting with Sheek Shariif in Kenya. Predictably, the ambassador made every effort to convince Sheekh Shariif to abandon his struggle against the Ethiopian occupation and join the foreign-imposed Somali regime. However, Sheekh Shariif turned down the offers. Amazingly, although Kenya deported hundreds of fleeing Somali refugees to the Ethiopian torture chambers—the Guantanamo Bay of Africa—in Ethiopia, Sheekh Shariif was let go to join the rest of the I.C.U. Surprise!

Virtually, the entire I.C.U leaders fled and took refuge in Eritrea. And while they formulated how to evict the barbaric Ethiopian occupying forces from Somalia, Eritrea dictated every move they made. Soon a rift between the I.C.U members and Eritrea became evident.
Some elements of the I.C.U remained in Eritrea while others not only left it but also denounced its role in the Somali liberation struggle. For instance, Sheekh Shariif openly spoke out against the Eritrean manipulation.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia, and its client regime: the Somali Transitional Government TFG (Tigray Founded Government. Tigray—the Ethiopian minority tribe that rules Ethiopia) have made tremendous efforts to bifurcate the I.C.U along tribal lines. And U.S. joined the battle to disintegrate the fabric of the I.C.U. Read the article entitled, “Somali Clan Ideology Intertwines with Western Bogus Terrorism” http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2007/277/13.shtml

Additionally, throughout Somali history, foreign imperialists took advantage of the Somalis’ division along tribal blood. Read this piece entitled, “The Formula of Death: From 1884 Berlin Conference to 2007 Mogadishu Reconciliation Meeting“
http://eastafricapi.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=105&Itemid=1

So, the battle—dividing the I.C.U—that began December 2006 ended June 2008 when some members of the I.C.U signed a peace treaty with the foreign backed Somali regime, and others not only denounced the agreement but also threatened to take action against those—the members of the I.C.U—who signed it. Bingo! The U.S.— Ethiopia coalition’s deceptive strategy to diminish the I.C.U’s ability to liberate Somalia from the brutal Ethiopian forces has been won. Here is the agreement: http://wardheernews.com/News_08/June/09_agreement.html

So what is next?

The next step for the U.S., Ethiopia, and TFG is how to put the I.C.U forces against one another. In the next few months, possibly a battle will rage within the I.C.U forces in Somalia. Name-callings, trading accusations and undermining one another, among others, will be the diplomatic language of the I.C.U’s opposing members.

Will the three month ceasefire hold?

Of course not! After all, the majority of those who are engaged in deadly battles with the occupying Ethiopian army have nothing to do with the I.C.U or the exiled Somali re-liberation group in Eritrea. Overwhelmingly, they are simply Somalis who don’t want to have foreign enemy troops in their land. Do you think these freedom fighters care about the so-called ceasefire signed in Djibouti? No! As long as foreign enemy troops are in Somalia, the fighting will continue.

Furthermore, the new U.N. sponsored Somali peace initiative held in Djibouti will bear no fruits for the same reasons that the earlier bogus Somali reconciliation meeting convened in Mogadishu didn’t lift off from the ground. Just as the Mogadishu conference lacked inclusiveness, so did the Djibouti meeting. Reaching peace while the major actors are absent is ridiculous (a new form of entertainment).

To sum up, once again, the I.C.U has naively fallen into the diabolical traps setup by the unholy U.S.— Ethiopia coalition. It is now evident that the I.C.U leaders cannot and won’t liberate Somalia while they are bickering. Ironically, the same Somali unity that they repeatedly echo is what exactly they lack today.

Ethiop, U.S., and Eritrea all made every effort to divide the I.C.U for different reasons, but in the end, it is the Somali people who will continue suffering because of lack unity against brutal and notorious enemy troops—the occupying Ethiopians forces.

Dalmar Kaahin,Ottawa , Canada
dalmar_k@yahoo.com