by Ambassador Berhanu Kebede
Sunday, January 17, 2010

Your article "Violence, fear and confusion: Welcome to the Horn of Africa" (World News) implied Somalia was at peace before Ethiopia's intervention in 2006. Assumptions used to criticise Ethiopia in relation to the instability are unfounded and fallacious. Lack of peace and stability in Somalia date from the overthrow of Siad Barre in 1991.

The intervention of Ethiopia in Somalia was not, as claimed, initiated by the US. Ethiopia acted in response to a threat to its national security. The Islamic Courts Union (ICU) declared a jihad against Ethiopia and promised that its acolytes intended to establish a caliphate government in Addis Ababa. The ICU had assassinated officials in Ethiopian border towns, terrorised civilians and destroyed public and private property. The attempt to relate the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea to the instability in Somalia is misleading.

Ethiopia's concern at what is happening in Somalia is genuine as the two countries share a 1,300km border. The interventions of Eritrea, which has no common border with Somalia, are dangerous and opportunistic.

Berhanu Kebede
Ambassador
Ethiopian Embassy
London SW7

adamjama @ 1/22/2010 10:47 AM EST  The Ambassador thinks we were borned yesterday or we have some form of amnesia when he writes "Assumptions used to criticise Ethiopia in relation to the instability are unfounded and fallacious. Lack of peace and stability in Somalia date from the overthrow of Siad Barre in 1991". He is ignoring three pertinent & unforgetable historical facts. Who armed then dispatched the three forces that toppled Siyad Barre in 1991 i.e SSDF, USC, and SNM?. Who armed and supported all war lords regardless of their objectives for 17 years(Hiirale, qanyare, Suudi, Qaybdiid, Caydiid, Xabsade, Mohomed Dheere, Yeey, Masale, Jees, and many many others)?. Once there was 6 months of tranquility and all the war lords were chased away, who brought them back on top of Ethiopian tanks?. Maybe he was in an irreversible coma.

nomadic1 @ 1/22/2010 9:01 AM EST  Fiqicigaal We will be fine as long as we remain responsible.

fiqicigaal @ 1/21/2010 5:04 PM EST  I mean't to say without precaution not with precaution.

fiqicigaal @ 1/21/2010 3:44 PM EST  nomadow lol As the Indian saying goes: Doodh ka jala chaanchko bhi phook phook ke peeta hai. The one burnt by hot milk drinks even cold buttermilk with precaution. War hadii aynu isla garano in  ooda dhacameed sidey ukala sareyaan eynu ukala gurno, miyeysan haboneyn in ooda u weyn ineynu iska qaadno kadib wey inoo sahlanaan ineynu isafgarano hadeynu nahay Somali. And isn't it natural for all living creatures whether rational or irrational to consult to their own security and self preservation? And even if Somalis act by instinct or reason and take responsibility, it still tends to avoid those things (Ethiopia) that have already done them serious injury. Aniga uunbaan axmaaro leysomarineyn saa sifiican baan u aqaanaye.

aligaagaale @ 1/21/2010 10:06 AM EST  It is unfair to compare Eritrea and Ethiopia, also. Ethiopia invaded Somalia to kill and maim us and Eritrea stood with the Somalis to fight this occupation, when Muslim, African, Arab and Western countries including Djibouti, not only abandoned us but manipulated the UN system, which legally should have protected member state Somalia, according to the UN charter, to support this illegal invasion. This is a documented fact that even Sheikh Sheriif Sheikh Ahamad knows very well.