Ethiopia to help TFG request for lifting of arms embargo

15 August 2006

By Eskinder Michael
Capital

Though Ethiopia is not in danger of facing eminent war, Fiseha Shawel , Desk Officer for Somalia , says that if Ethiopia is provoked in a way that could disrupt peace, then ‘we will react'.

“We have set some red lines that the United Islamic Courts ( UIC ) should not trespass and fortunately they haven't done that so far. But if they were to do so and if the provocation becomes a direct threat to our national security, we will react,” Fiseha told Capital .

Ethiopia has made clear that it supports the Transitional Federal Government ( TFG ) of Somalia , a move that seems to have angered the UIC . The UIC says that Ethiopia is interfering in Somalia 's affairs, while the latter claims that it was just supporting a neighboring country.

The UIC , led by Islamic extremists and backed by Al-Ithad is hell bent on pushing Ethiopia out of the picture and even asked to declare Jihad on Ethiopia .

Fiseha, who believes that Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin 's one day visit to Baidowa , Somalia was one hundred percent successful, says that the minister had succeeded in helping the three top TFG leaders resolve their problems.

“Following the mediation by the Foreign Minister, the top three TFG leaders – President Abudallahi Yousuf , Prime Minister Mohammed Gedi and Speaker of the House Sheriff Hassan – have decided to reduce the number of ministers,” he added.

The meeting also resolved the matter of who would lead the delegation that would travel to Mogadishu later this month to hold dialogues with leaders of the UIC . “It was agreed that PM Mohammed Gedi would lead the delegation and if not him, someone appointed by him. Sheriff Hassan had earlier felt that he should lead the delegation to Mogadishu .”

Also on August 15-18 2006, the IGAD Ministers of Defense will meet in Nairobi where they would discuss and approve a mission plan that could see an IGAD peace force sent to Somalia .

The detailed mission plan will show how many members the peace force would have, which countries would contribute to the force, what kind of weapons they will be armed with and the duration of their stay.

The matter will be taken on by the committee of IGAD ambassadors on August 20-22, 2006 – also in Nairobi - and the matter will be presented to the AU for another round of approval. The matter will then be presented to the United Nations Security Council where it is highly likely that it will be approved.

“The approval of the IGAD mission will be followed by a request for a lift of arms embargo in favor of the TFG so that the transitional government could protect its institutions,” Fiseha said.