Ethiopia Insight

Violence drive Somalis to Ethiopia

21 December 2006

Hundreds of Somalis are fleeing into Ethiopia following weeks of tension that exploded into fierce combat between the Islamic courts and Somalia's Ethiopia-backed government troops, officials said on Thursday.

The head of Ethiopia's Muslim community, Mahamud Issa, said that at least 150 refugees are streaming into the country daily, but added that it was difficult to establish an exact figure given the extensive border with Somalia.

"Every day, 150 new refugees are coming in Addis Ababa. More refugees entering the country are staying in the Somali state," in the country's southeastern region, Mahamud told a press conference.

"We received the assurance from the Ethiopian government that they will provide us protection, especially in Addis Ababa," he added.

The UN agency for refugees (UNHCR) said "many" Somalis had arrived at a camp in Somali state although no formal registration had been carried out at the facility that currently houses 16 387 refugees.

"Many have arrived and settled with the Ethiopian Somalis in the Somali region of the country," said Kissut Gebre-Egziabher, the UNHCR spokesperson.

"So far, we have not been able to conduct a formal registration on the refugees," Kissut added.

Heavy fighting broke early Wednesday after the expiry of a seven-day ultimatum issued by the Islamists to thousands of Ethiopian troops they say have been deployed into the country to protect the interim government.

The Islamists, who control much of southern Somalia, have declared a holy war against Ethiopia, unless it pulls out all its troops from Somalia.

Addis Ababa acknowledges sending military advisors to Baidoa, the seat of the interim government, but denies it has thousands of combat troops to protect the feeble Somali government.

Observers fear the clashes may engulf the whole region with both Ethiopia and its arch-rival Eritrea accused of involvement in Somalia to wage a proxy war over their unresolved border dispute.

Somalia, home to some 10 million people, has lacked an effective central authority since 1991 when dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled, plunging the country into cycles of bloodshed.