Djibouti (HAN) July 31,  2006 - The Horn of African observers say Eritrea, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia are about to wage a proxy war in Somalia. The United Nations and the United States have warned both countries to refrain from interfering. The State Department said Ethiopia and Eritrea should avoid actions that might harm peace talks whilst a UN envoy Francois L. Fall said he did not want to see them fight a proxy war. The Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer, said earlier last month: "There are external parties involved on all sides, this is a problem."

Ethiopia fears the long and porous border with Somalia will allow possible militant elements to take advantage of the latter's lawlessness. The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Ethiopians and Ethiopian Jews residing in Israel were briefed on the current situations in Ethiopia.

The Ministry briefing was made while a delegation led by Tigray State government paid working visit to Israel recently.

During a meeting held in Bersheba town, the delegation gave briefings to 250 to 300 Ethiopians on the investment opportunities and incentives in the State, the Ministry said citing Ethiopian Embassy in Tel Aviv.

The objective of the visit paid was to draw lessons from Israel in the agriculture sector, military sector as well as discussing with Ethiopians and Ethiopian Jews residing there, the Ministry said.

Last week with BBC interview, Tackle the UIC or we will: Meles tells int'l community. The Second Eritrean plane arrives in Mogadishu with Eritrean officers, anti-aircraft, AK47s. Ethiopia will handle the problem in Somalia if the international community soon does not, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said in an interview with the BBC.

Theprime minister Meles said that the Somalia Government (TFG) had weak defense capabilities, that it needs to be supported and that his government was willing to send in troops if the TFG made requests. 

Atto. Hibo Elmi, an adviser to the president of Somalia, said in a telephone interview: "The transitional government will do what it needs to do to protect itself. Ethiopia has always been a strong ally ... and has made their intentions very candid. There are no plans to go further into Somalia that I know of now." 
David H. Shinn, U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia from 1996 to 1999, said Ethiopia should be wary of further military involvement in Somalia. 

"I think Ethiopia needs to be very cautious in realizing the whirlwind they could start here. Going any further into Somalia could stir up Somalian nationalism and anti-Ethiopian sentiments that already run high," he said. 

Adeed Mohamed, a Somali citizen living in the United States, said the Ethiopians have other reasons to fear the ICU. "We know that the Islamic Courts help Eritrea every day. They get arms from them. Eritrea has for a long time been a rival of Ethiopia, and Ethiopia is afraid that if the Islamic Courts gain more ground near the border, Eritrea will have a second front to launch attacks against Ethiopia," he said.  Sources: HAN staff, Walta, Geeska Afrika Online.

To advertise in The GEESKA AFRIKA ONLINE AND HAN, contact:
HAN Banner Advertisement Price List
The HAN Ad Desk office

Email: han@geeskaafrika.com