Maintaining the diplomatic alliance
Desta Hailu
Due to its diplomatic principle, Ethiopia’s acceptance around the world is getting stronger. Hence, Ethiopia is attracting the attention of other countries, be it in our sub-region, at continental or international level. For this, we can mention FDRE Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s visit to many countries which includes China and the UK, where he signed many agreements, and the fact that, higher officials of the countries like Qatar, UK, Somalia, Poland, and Singapore made an official visit to Ethiopia.
This growing acceptance of our country didn’t come out of the blue, rather from the impressive internal works Ethiopia is and has been undertaking. Thus, it should not be forgotten that the basis of our acceptance has to do with the works the country puts in for its peace, development and democracy.
Ethiopia has worked hard for peace for the past 26 years out of its strong stance for it. As a result of this effort, Ethiopia now sits as first from Africa, and fourth in the world, when it comes to dispatching peacekeeping troops as the country has dispatched more than 10 thousand of its troops to various missions. This shows how much the government puts in a huge effort for the peace and stability of neighboring countries, hence at the continent and the international level. The country and the government also get lauded for the pro-people attitude and discipline our peacekeeping troops show at the missions they are dispatched to. Here, I would like to raise two instances to further illustrate this point in this article – Somalia and the contentious region Abeyei.
As it’s known, the terrorist group ‘Al-Ittahad Al-Islamiya’; which organized itself to carry out attack on our country for two decades by sheltering in the then stateless Somalia. As it can be recalled, it used the eastern part of our country as a getaway to undertake its malicious acts. However, such antics were not acceptable to the locals as it meant taking away the rights and benefits they were getting from the constitution. And, as they believe that our troops are forces of peace, they have given them their committed support, when they fought to stop the terrorist group. In addition to facing ‘Al-Ittihad’ head on, the local people have played a huge role in this fight by giving information to our troops. When the terror group was hit in this manner with the support of the local people, the sheikh Dawir Aweyes led the Islamic fundamentalist group by the name of ‘Union of Islamic Courts (UIC)’ clearly declared Jihad on our country at the behest (backing) of the Eritrean government. Our government responded by reaching out for peaceful solution which didn’t get a similar response from the other side.
Although there was no elected government in Somalia at that time, the government still didn’t want to violate the border out of respect for the people of Somalia. Thus, the government used various channels to change the mind of the group – with no avail. Thus, after exhausting every avenue for peace and after the government’s long running patience run out, it had neutralized the clear and present danger that was posed on our country after the parliament ratified the mission. The fact that this mission was undertaken with our troops displaying pro-people attitude and discipline has garnered the respect of the Somali people.
When the ‘Union of Islamic Court’ was defeated by our brave soldiers along with the collaboration of the Somali people, its remnants established an extremist group called ‘Al-Shabaab’. Then, the group declared that it is an east Africa faction of Al-Qaeda and started to gather international jihadists. It then declared Jihad on our country. However, our defense forces still went to that country in order to rollback the threat that was posed on us. Our troops returned back to their home after diminishing Al-Shabaab into a meaningless level. The usual support came from the Somali people when our troops did that. As the transitional government was not strong at the time, our troops paid huge sacrifices to establish a new government in that country after many years without one.
Nevertheless, as Al-Shabaab continued to be a threat to the region, our troops had to join the internationally sanctioned peacekeeping mission AMISOM, after a request for their involvement. Through AMISOM, our troops have helped lay the basis in the effort that led to Somalia to establish a publicly elected government and elect its President peacefully. Thus, it will not be a lie to say that the peace of Somalia is an outcome of Ethiopia’s government peace-loving attitude and the discipline and pro-people attitude of our troops. Coming to the Abeyei region, as it’s known, the Ethiopian troops were chosen by the UN to enter into the contentious region of Abeyei solely. Both Sudan and South Sudan put their trust only on the Ethiopian defense force to look after the peace of the region.
This was an unprecedented decision made by the United Nations. It is also unusual for the UN or two contending or warring sides to choose unanimously the troops of one country to be dispatched as peacekeeping forces. This demand for our peacekeeping force comes from our troops pro-people attitude, neutrality and how disciplined they are in carrying out their missions. Our forces are carrying out their mission today in Abeyei with amazing discipline and bravery. Thus, these and other exemplary diplomatic successes should continue strongly.
The other issue we find in this regard is the rise of our country’s role in negotiations. This diplomatic success existed during the reign of emperor Haileselassie, but it further elevated on an institutional and systematic manner under the FDRE government. It was during this administration that Ethiopia became the voice of Africa in the global issue of climate change. It was also under this government that Ethiopia showed the way by initiating its own green economy initiative. All this has helped in bourgeoning the country’s acceptance at international level.
In my belief, the contributions the FDRE government made during the times of OAU and now under AU are the basis for the diplomatic success it has gotten now. It was during the time of AU that the IGAD /Inter-Governmental Authority on Development/ and Ethiopia started to work to bring peace to the region. And on the 1992 Nairobi Summit, where IGAD worked to broker a peace deal, the Ethiopian government played a successful role. This effort and success of our country has attracted the accolade of the international community. Indeed! The Ethiopian government contribution to the peace agreement that was struck by the Sudanese government and South Sudan Rebels was immense. This is because; the fact that both parties reached a peace agreement indicated the shape of things to come.
As it can also be recalled, the Ethiopian government has played a major role in the success of the 1998 peace summit that was held in Addis Ababa. Thus, as the team effort made by IGAD /InterGovernmental Authority on Development/ and the Ethiopian government was accepted by both parties, the 2005 CPA (Comprehensive Peace Agreement) agreement was signed. However, despite this success the country was sucked onto another crisis. The Darfur crisis, an ethnic conflict involving various actors, followed shortly. Of course efforts were under way to resolve the crisis peacefully. The one made by the likes of Chad and by African Union (AU) can be pointed out here.
Although there have been an effort to bring together the Sudanese government and the two militants in Addis Ababa, it was not successful. As Ethiopia’s desire to create good relation with its neighbors emanates from its foreign affairs and national security policy, it has helped change the relation that used to be seen between the two. The relation with Sudan especially was elevated to a better level.
Truth be told, the effort to bring peace to Sudan emanates from the positive effect our neighbors’ peace has on our development, peace and democratic order building. The only way our effort to beat poverty and backwardness can be successful is, if our neighbors are at peace. Obviously, even the peace of countries that are situated far away from us has a huge impact on the peace of our own let alone our bordering countries. And this will inevitably led countries to work hand in hand at continental level and strengthen the renaissance of Africa. All in all, they have stated their appreciation for the Ethiopian government which played the major role in stopping the brutal conflict that erupted between South Sudan rebels and Sudan. And this is a huge diplomatic success our country has gained.
The relation South Sudan strikes with Ethiopia since its independence is based on mutual benefit. It revolves around trade, infrastructure, and investment and security issues. Currently, the good relation our country has with the newest country is expected to boost its effort to economically integrate the region. And this is also one of our diplomatic successes. In general, the reason that is making our country in need and accepted at the continental and international level emanates from the diplomatic success it is gaining. Thus, these diplomatic successes should be maintained.