N.O.R.F Posted July 9, 2007 The Verdict Is In: The Ethiopian Intervention In Somalia Is A Failure EDITORIAL Whatever one might have thought initially about the Ethiopian military intervention in Somalia, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that, as it stands now, it is a failure. Yes, the Ethiopian intervention did remove the immediate threat that the Islamic Courts posed to Ethiopia and the so-called Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG), but it failed in bringing peace to Somalia. As a matter of fact the Ethiopian intervention has highlighted the vast contrast in law and order between Southern Somalia under Ethiopian occupation compared to when it was under the control of the Islamic Courts. We say this not in an attempt to rehabilitate the Islamic Courts or to paper over their terrorist activities, but for the sake of accuracy. The truth is Ethiopia is in a mess in Somalia, and the situation is not getting better with every passing day but worse. As if covering such a vast theater of operations from Baidoa to Mogadishu and all the way to Kismayo was not risky enough, the Ethiopian government also took upon itself the additional responsibility of establishing the TFG in Mogadishu, which can only be described as a fool’s errand. The deteriorating situation in Somalia is becoming so plain for everyone to see that the Ethiopian prime minister finally admitted that his government had made mistakes in Somalia. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Ms Jendayi Fraser has also conceded that the Ethiopian intervention in Somalia has only made a bad situation worse. As the Ethiopian and the US governments try to find ways out of the mess in Somalia, the first thing they should do is acknowledge the reality that there is no government in Somalia, and accept that, for a variety of reasons, trying to impose the TFG on Somalis is a losing proposition. Once they have thrown the TFG monkey off their backs, then they have a better chance of making a realistic assessment of the situation then act accordingly. Source: Somaliland Times Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
