Meles says motive of Eritrea is destabilizing East Africa

03 August 2006

ADDIS ABABA - The motive of Eritrea in arming the Mogadishu based Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) is its desire to disrupt the prevailing peace in the Horn of Africa, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told the BBC.

The BBC Somali language transmission which quoted Mohammad Adaw’s interview with the prime minister said Eritrea’s support to the UIC emanates from its strong motive to destabilize the Horn and mess up the regional peace.

Meles, who said that Ethiopia has not sent troops to Baidoa, the seat of the Transitional Government of Somalia, stated that it is appropriate to gain support from any African government to avert any offensive against the weak government.

Meles stressed that his government does not view the UIC in whole as a problem, but insisted that some of the extremists in the leadership of the UIC are striving to establish an Islamic rule in East Africa, which is harmful for the stability of the region.

The PM further expressed that Ethiopia firmly believes that this dangerous tendency should be nipped in the bud.

Meanwhile, the Transitional Government of Somalia said Eritrea’s alliance with the extremists against the Transitional Government of Somalia (TGS), which it had recognized along with international organizations, clearly attests to its anti-peace position. Ambassador of the TGS to Ethiopia, Abdulkerim Farah, said his government that came into existence after 16 years with the support of AU and IGAD member countries has been enjoying political support from the international community.

However, he said, Eritrea’s support to a group that declared war of terror defying the decisions of IGAD and African Union as well as the arms sanctions imposed by the UN stands contrary to its previous position.

Farah also called on African Union and the international community to put pressure on the Eritrean leadership to refrain from their acts of aggravating Somalia’s problems by arming the anarchic and extremist forces.

He further requested the AU to redouble its efforts for peace as the real needs of Somalia is a central government that rehabilitates the country rather than that destabilizes it.

He said the role of IGAD and AU in trying to solve the problem is invaluable as the problem of Somalia is becoming the problem of East Africa and of the whole continent.

The TGS, according to the Ambassador, has also requested for the lifting of the arms sanctions in place as it has impeded the government from organizing its won army and Eritrea’s support of the extremists has created power imbalance.

Ambassador Abdulkerim further noted that if the extremists believe that they have popular acceptance they would rather recognize the transitional government and prepare themselves for election since the TGS is only making preparations to handover power to a publicly elected party by the year 2009.

Meanwhile, Abdulkerim stated that tensions in and around Mogadishu have escalated after disruption of the peace talks between the transitional government and the UIC at Khartoum following deposition of two moderate leaders of the union who were members of the union delegation.

(WIC)