Ethiopia’s immensurable loyalty to Somalia
Molla Mitiku Ayenew
The contemporary status of Somalia is quite antithetical from what it was some ten years ago; the time when it was overwhelmingly engrossed in perpetual ethnic conflicts that devastated the country’s socioeconomic state of affairs. The Islamic radicals added fuel to the long lasting conflict, which aggravated the excruciation of the Somali people through cutthroat murdering, torturing, stoning and hanging.
Despite the stable and untroubled situation created so far, the Somalis are still liable to all of a sudden attacks by Al-Shabab. The deadly bomb onset, which claimed over 400 lives, devastated the livelihoods of the people and left hundreds wounded, could be a factual avowal for this argument. Somali President Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed Fermonjo, in his work visit to Ethiopia following the severe terrorist attack in Mogadishu, inquired the Ethiopian government to beef up its assistance to Somalia in its efforts of launching an offensive attack against Al-Shabab.
Despite the current incident, one can read and attest a lot of gains in that war torn country. In fact, hadn’t it been for the sacrifice of Ethiopia, Somalia could not have managed to attain its stable current status.
The government and people of Ethiopia remained loyal to the Somali people in time of difficulty. At the period when Somalis were engaged in ceaseless ethnic conflicts that resulted in mass displacement, Ethiopia opened its borders to them. In 2012, when the conflict was severely escalated, the number of Somali refugees in Ethiopia hit over two hundred thousand.
On March 2017, the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) reported, “More than 1.4 million Somalis are living in exile, many for decades. The majority are hosted by countries in the region that Ethiopia alone hosts over 245,000”.
A decade ago, when the Islamic Court Union (ICU), one of the threats and peace poisoning agents in the Horn, tenanted Somalia and kicked off executing, murdering, torturing and stoning the Somali people, particularly the women and the youth, Ethiopia stood by the people of Somalia in getting rid of the ICU.
Ethiopia managed to break the backbone of the ICU; thereby, it not only ensured relief to the suffering Somali people, but also made hay the efforts of the Islamic group to destabilize the entire region.
Following the demise of IUC Al-Shabab militants began fueling the instability and insecurity of Somalia, which inquired elongating the intervention of Ethiopian troops. In due process, the Ethiopian troops managed to attack and chase the terrorist group out of its strongholds in different parts of Somalia in a bid to end the troubling situation and maintain the peaceful regional environment. Therefore, Ethiopia stood with the Somali people in their time of difficulty and played an indispensable role to bring an enduring peace.
Despite continuous efforts to sustain the peace and stability in Somalia as well as terminating the terrorist attacks targeting innocent civilians in that country, ensuring an enduring peace seems far-reached that it still deserves a consolidated endeavor to altogether free the Somali people from Al-Shabab.
In fact, the Somalia National Force in collaboration with AMISOM has been chasing the Al-Shabab militants. It has captured several areas from that group, rescued and freed civilian hostages. The operation is expected to continue until all areas under Al-Shabaab militants are liberated completely, as the Somali National News Agency (SONNA) reported.
In connection to this, the role that Ethiopia is playing under the auspice of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is so vital. And now Somalia inquired Ethiopia for a full scale support. As usual, Ethiopia is loyal and willing to help the Somali people wholeheartedly.
It is not sick of its sacrifice in Somalia. Rather, it spares no effort to lend a hand to guarantee peace and stability to neighboring people at any cost. That is why Ethiopia renewed its commitment to cooperate with the Somali government in fighting against Al-Shabab in a bid to realize the welfare and peaceful coexistence of the Somali people.
The current terrorist onslaught happened at a time when Somalia is attempting to stand on its toes due to current political, social and economic improvements. It is now relatively in a better peace and stability after nearly three decades of the crippling conflict and started rebuilding its economy. All this happened with the unreserved help from Ethiopia.
Irrespective of all these improvements, there is still need to join hands against the terrorist group in Somalia that have been persistently attacking civilians and poisoning the peace and stability of that country.
Ethiopia is still striving to ensure a considerable support to the people of Somalia. Recently, it made vivid that one of its priorities during its membership of the United Nations Security Council is stepping-up the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of peace and security that it will use its incumbency to focus on conflict resolution in South Sudan and fighting Al-Shabab in Somalia.
In spite of the previously collaborated efforts exerted to free Somalia from Al-Shabab, much has to be done to bring an enduring peace and stability. Recent reports indicated an inhumane action by the terrorist group. “Al-Shabaab uses mentally sick people for its suicide mission, coercing them to carry out deadly attacks. There is an urgent need for joint cooperation to defeat the group and bring an end to their use of sick people in the conflict,” Minister of Defense Abdirashid Abdullahi Mohamed told SONNA.
Garowe Online on its part reported, “More than 27 people, including high-profile people, regional Minister and former MP were killed, and dozens wounded in the nightlong attack by militants at a hotel in Mogadishu. Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the carnage … saying that they killed 70 people, including Intelligence officials and two Turkish nationals”.
Unless the Somali government is backed in its new strategy to end the terrorist attacks of Al-Shabab, it could not be fully engaged in rebuilding the country’s economy and Somalia might turn back to its previous status where there is no national government. Just to the time when the people, particularly the youth have obliged to take terrorist trainings and where the country became a safe haven for Al-Shabab.
Although Somali officials previously reported that Al-Shabab is already weekend, it is still attacking the civilians. In this regard, there is a need to join hands against the militants. Ethiopia is still committed to support the Somali people in their efforts to stand by their toes in addition to what it has been playing to ensure lasting peace under the auspice of AMISOM.
Ethiopia has been sacrificed to realize an enduring peace in Somalia just as part and parcel of its poverty alleviation agenda. In its endeavor to pull the country out of poverty, the Ethiopian government recognized the importance of peace and stability at home and in the entire region. That is why it determined to fully assist Somalia in its effort to pull it out of the long lasting chaos.
Though failing to long last, there is hope to ensure lasting peace in Somalia. The country, with the support of Ethiopia and other countries, has managed to end the long time lawlessness flourished in that country. It has designed various economic, social and political laws and regulations, which are currently under implementation. At this time, it is not gloomy at all. Time is on the side of restoration of the rebuilding of Somalia and liquidation of Al-Shababa. However, there is still need to join hands so as to sustain these achievements.
Ethiopia is supporting Somalia to achieve its current situation, which is quite different from some years back. Following the recent attack, Ethiopia accepted the urgent call of the government of Somalia to help in its fight against the terrorist group that has been destabilizing the stability and jeopardizing the rebuilding efforts. At any juncture of hardship, Ethiopia has a firm stand in helping the people of Somalia. It remains loyal in lending hands to its neighbor since time immemorial.