Know Your Enemy

[Jabhad]

Somalia-Ethiopia, Kenya Conflict

 

 

Despite the difficulties encountered in integrating north and south, the most important political issue in postindependence Somali politics was the unification of all areas populated by Somalis into one country--a concept identified as pan-Somalism, or Greater Somalia. Politicians assumed that this issue dominated popular opinion and that any government would fall if it did not demonstrate a militant attitude toward neighboring countries occupying Somali territory.

 

Preoccupation with Greater Somalia shaped the character of the country's newly formed institutions and led to the build-up of the Somali military and ultimately to the war with Ethiopia and fighting in the NFD in Kenya. By law the exact size of the National Assembly was not established in order to facilitate the inclusion of representatives of the contested areas after unification. The national flag featured a five-pointed star whose points represented those areas claimed as part of the Somali nation--the former Italian and British territories, the *SomaliGalbeed*,Djibouti, and the NFD. Moreover, the preamble to the constitution approved in 1961 included the statement, "The Somali Republic promotes by legal and peaceful means, the union of the territories." The constitution also provided that all ethnic Somalis, no matter where they resided, were citizens of the republic. The Somalis did not claim sovereignty over adjacent territories, but rather demanded that Somalis living in them be granted the right to self-determination. Somali leaders asserted that they would be satisfied only when their fellow Somalis outside the republic had the opportunity to decide for themselves what their status would be.

 

At the 1961 London talks on the future of Kenya, Somali representatives from the NFD demanded that Britain arrange for the NFD's separation before Kenya was granted independence. The British government appointed a commission to ascertain popular opinion in the NFD on the question. Its investigation indicated that separation from Kenya was almost unanimously supported by the Somalis and their fellow nomadic pastoralists, the Oromo. These two peoples, it was noted, represented a majority of the NFD's population.

Despite Somali diplomatic activity, the colonial government in Kenya did not act on the commission's findings. British officials believed that the federal format then proposed in the Kenyan constitution would provide a solution through the degree of autonomy it allowed the predominantly Somali region within the federal system. This solution did not diminish Somali demands for unification, however, and the modicum of federalism disappeared after Kenya's government opted for a centralized constitution in 1964.

 

The denial of Somali claims led to growing hostility between the Kenyan government and Somalis in the NFD. Adapting easily to life as shiftas, or bandits, the Somalis conducted a guerrilla campaign against the police and army for more than four years between 1960 and 1964. The Somali government officially denied Kenya's charges that the guerrillas were trained in Somalia, equipped there with Soviet arms, and directed from Mogadishu. But it could not deny that the Voice of Somalia radio influenced the level of guerrilla activity by means of its broadcasts beamed into Kenya.

 

 

Incidents began to occur in the Haud within six months after Somali independence. At first the incidents were con Somalia refused to acknowledge in particular the validity of the Anglo-Ethiopian Treaty of 1954 recognizing Ethiopia's claim to the Haud or, in general, the relevance of treaties defining Somali-Ethiopian borders. Somalia's position was based on three points: first, that the treaties disregarded agreements made with the clans that had put them under British protection; second, that the Somalis were not consulted on the terms of the treaties and in fact had not been informed of their existence; and third, that such treaties violated the self-determination principle. fined to minor clashes between Ethiopian police and armed parties of Somali nomads, usually resulting from traditional provocations such as smuggling, livestock rustling, and tax collecting, rather than irredentist agitation. Their actual causes aside, these incidents tended to be viewed in Somalia as expressions of Somali nationalism. Hostilities grew steadily, eventually involving small-scale actions between Somali and Ethiopian armed forces along the border. In February 1964, armed conflict erupted along the Somali-Ethiopian frontier, and Ethiopian aircraft raided targets in Somalia. Hostilities ended in April through the mediation of Sudan, acting under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Under the terms of the cease-fire, a joint commission was established to examine the causes of frontier incidents, and a demilitarized zone ten to fifteen kilometers wide was established on either side of the border. At least temporarily, further military confrontations were prevented.

 

 

 

 

Ethiopia and Kenya concluded a mutual defense pact in 1964 in response to what both countries perceived as a continuing threat from Somalia. This pact was renewed in 1980 and again on August 28, 1987, calling for the coordination of the armed forces of both states in the event of an attack by Somalia. Most OAU members were alienated by Somali irredentism and feared that if Somalia were successful in detaching the Somali-populated portions of Kenya and Ethiopia, the example might inspire their own restive minorities divided by frontiers imposed during the colonial period. In addition, in making its irredentist claims, the Somalis had challenged two of Africa's leading elder statesmen, President Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya and Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.

Home Forum Games Opinion News Contact Us

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Historical facts about Somalia’s relationship with Neighbours (Kenya & Ethiopia)

 

Last Updated Friday September 22, 2006 20:17:00 by A Farah (Gaabkey)

 

 

The relationship between these three countries has always been one mixed with suspicion and fear. Both Ethiopia and Kenya still occupy territories which belong to Somalia and there are so many historical documents confirming the Somalia’s claim to those territories. In this article, I tried to summarise those facts to our readers so one can get the full picture of how the current political affairs in the region started and to make judgement of whether the Ethiopian & Kenyan governments want to see Somalia’s problems resolved.

 

The Somalis, Muslims but not Arabs, appeared in the horn of Africa towards the end of the European Middle Ages and subsequently started conflict with the Christian kingdom of Ethiopia. The Ethiopia's special concern was the spread of Islam in the region. Unlike the Ethiopians, the Somalia were not only conquered by Europeans in the nineteenth century but also partitioned among them. They were subjected in the latter part of the nineteenth century, first by the French in the sixties and then by the British and the Italians (who also took Eritrea) in the eighties. The British colony of Kenya extended northwards over a predominantly Somali area, and Ethiopia appropriated in Ogden province territory to which belongs to Somalia. Relations between Ethiopia and the Somalis were therefore inherently bad and British relations with both were uneasy, since the Ethiopians suspected Britain of partiality to Somali claims against Ethiopia, while Somalis found Britain unsympathetic to their claims against Kenya.

 

In 1935 Italians, dissatisfied with the barrenness of their part of Somaliland and their imperial pretensions in general, exploited an incident at Wal-Wal in the disputed ****** in order to conquer Ethiopia. They were suspected of toying with the idea of a Greater Somalia which would annex British Somaliland, but their defeat by the British in 1941 revived the independent Ethiopian empire (to which was added Eritrea in 1952 after a period of British trusteeship) and left the Somalis still subject and divided. At the end of the 2nd World War, Ernest Bevin proposed at one moment a Greater Somalia consisting of British and Italian Somaliland and *SomaliGalbeed*, but this notion antagonized Ethiopia without profiting the Somalis. Discussions on the Ethiopian-Somali frontier proceeded sluggishly until 1959 when a conference in Oslo with Trygve Lie as arbitrator produced a compromise agreeable to neither side.

 

In 1960 Italian Somaliland, to which the Italians had returned in 1950 to administer a ten-year trusteeship, became independent, and as this date approached the British, who had become nervous of Egyptian interference in British Somaliland, hurried their own colony forward so that it could be joined with Italian Somaliland to make the Independent Republic of Somalia. Large but poor, racially mixed, ill prepared Somali Republic was distrustful of her neighbours and menaced by both Kenya an Ethiopia who controlled part of Somali lands. A movement in French Somaliland in favour of accession to Somalia had been circumvented two years earlier when territory's assembly voted in favour of continuing as an Overseas Territory of the French Union.

 

At the Lancaster House conference in Kenyan in 1962 the Somalis asked unsuccessfully for a plebiscite in the Northern Frontier District of Kenya {an area of over 100,000 square miles} and its union with Somalis. Later in the same year Kenyan politicians discussed with Somalis an East African federation which would embrace not only Somalia and the British East African territories but also Ethiopia; in the event of some such development of the Kenyans made it plain that they intended to keep the Northern Frontier for themselves.

 

In December a Boundaries commission recommended that the district be divided into two regions, both to be included in the new Kenyan state. This recommendation, which was accepted by the British Government produced riots and a rupture of diplomatic relations with Somalia. Kenya was able to get other African states led by Ethiopia on its side and Kenyan delegation walked out of an Afro-Asian conference at Moshi in Tanganyika in February 1963 when Somalis raised the border issue. At a Further conference in Addis Ababa in May a number of Africans led by Ethiopia chided the Somalis for again raising the Question. In the same year open hostiles broke out between Somalia and Ethiopia. The establishments of the independent Somali state had not immediately produced a clash; the Somalis refrained from challenging a neighbour which possessed America equipments , while Ethiopia , if it contemplated direct action, had to take into account possible African disapproval of such a course and also the consequences within its own none too homogeneous borders. But the Somali claim against Kenya alarmed Ethiopia owing to its affinity with Somali claims on Ethiopia's *SomaliGalbeed*province. Fighting developed unofficially along the borders during1962. In the next year Somali prime Minster, Abdirashid Shermake, visited the USSR, Egypt, India, Pakistan and Italy. He got little help or encouragement. at the end of that year saw also saw also the formal conclusion of a pre-arranged Kenyan-Ethiopian defence treaty, and a few months later open fighting began between Ethiopia and Somalia. The Russians offered their mediation and deputy foreign minister of the USSR went to Mogadishu, thereby evincing Russian concern, if not for the Somalis, at any rate about possible American or Chinese influence in the Horn. More effective mediation was proffered by the President of the Sudan and the king of Morocco, and after talks in Khartoum hostilities were suspended.

 

Secret documents seen in 1970 showed that Kenya and Ethiopia have renewed their defence treaty against Somalia to protect themselves against Somalia's claims. Both countries knew that they can not win a war against strong and united Somali army. In 1977 Somalia-Ethiopia war broke out and the fairs of both Kenya and Ethiopia became reality when Ethiopia was defeated and Somalis captured the whole of ****** region and many Ethiopian towns. Ethiopia was saved by USSR army which switched sides and forced Somalis to pull back to the original borders. But the Horn of Africa remained an uneasy quarter: a meeting place of races and religions; a scene of territorial claims between rivals backed by outside powers .

 

Since Mohamed Siad Barre (Somalia's dictator for 21yrs) was forced out of power in 1990, there has not been functional government in Somalia. Somalia's weakness has allowed Both Kenya and Ethiopia to influence the internal affairs of Somalia. They found Somali businessmen and warlords who have no political skills and no love for their own country. Somalia's current political shambles led by so called warlords or Somali district leaders including Abdullahi Yusuf (so called parliament elected President) plays into the hands of both Kenya and Ethiopia. If Somalis do not change their attitude and their current leaders, they will risk further break down of their country. They must stop trusting Kenyan and Ethiopian politician who are using some of those warlords to further increase Somalia's conflict.

 

Somalis must remember the speech made by Daniel Ara Mio (former Kenyan President) who said "Kenya and Ethiopia do not want to see a strong and united Somalia as their neighbour." Somalis need to take a note of this statement and the fact that Kenya and Ethiopia agreed a defence treaty designed to support each other in the event of war against Somalia. There is no doubt that both countries are waging political, psychological and economical war against Somalia. For example, Kenya's drug (Qat) export into Somalia has tripled 3times within the last 15yrs. By doing this, Kenya wants to ensure that most Somalis become drug addicts. And Ethiopia went further by providing weapons to warlords in order to escalate the conflict within the Somalis themselves and they are currently sending army units inside Somalia in particular Baydabo and Galkacyo.

[Jabhad]

Secret documents seen in 1970 showed that Kenya and Ethiopia have renewed their defence treaty against Somalia to protect themselves against Somalia's claims.

Somalis must remember the speech made by Daniel Ara Mio (former Kenyan President) who said "Kenya and Ethiopia do not want to see a strong and united Somalia as their neighbour."

30+ years of strong relationship between Addis and Nairobi to deny the realization of Strong and UNITED PEOPLES OF SOMALIA!!! :mad:

[Kamalu Diin]

ISN'T THE USC/ICU IS DENYING THE RIGHTS OF SELF-DETERMINATION PUNTLAND/SOMALILAND.

- THE ENEMY WITHIN IS LOT WOREST THEN OUTSIDERS. I BELIEVE THE ROUTE THE USC/ICU (THE ENEMY WITHIN) IS TAKING IS LOT WORST THAN OUTSIDE ENEMY.

[Wisdom_Seeker]

It is pathetic that we have Somalis who deny other Somalis the right to have Greater Somalia.

 

We have enemies that are ten times worse than Ethiopia and Kenya and these enemies are some of our own fellow Somalis.

 

There tribalistic mentality is revolting.

[Wisdom_Seeker]

Originally posted by Kamalu Diin:

ISN'T THE USC/ICU IS DENYING THE RIGHTS OF SELF-DETERMINATION PUNTLAND/SOMALILAND.

- THE ENEMY WITHIN IS LOT WOREST THEN OUTSIDERS. I BELIEVE THE ROUTE THE USC/ICU (THE ENEMY WITHIN) IS TAKING IS LOT WORST THAN OUTSIDE ENEMY.

Somaliland and Puntland are puppets of Ethiopia, what right do they have to self-determination?

 

Why do they wish to divide from there fellow Somali brethrens?

[Kamalu Diin]

Originally posted by mystic:

It is pathetic that we have Somalis who deny other Somalis the right to have Greater Somalia.

where did I say greater somalia. re-read my comments as respond approprietly.

[Kamalu Diin]

Originally posted by mystic:

Why do they wish to divide from there fellow Somali brethrens? [/QB]

Ask yourself puzzled man. Hal xiraalihii waad ku dhacday. su'ashaas waxaa ay u taalay USC/ICU markii guryaha muslimiinta ay ku gadanaayeen for pennies. Soomaalaa waxay ku maah maahdaa Yeelaa waa hilmaamaa la yelaase ma hilmaamo. Saxiib USC/ICU xaqiii muslimiinta ayaa ka soo baxday hadeer oo ay la qaylinyaan soomaali ayaa la kala goyneyaa oo hurdada ka tooseen. waraabe wax lala wadaagi karo malaha.

[Wisdom_Seeker]

Originally posted by Kamalu Diin:

quote:Originally posted by mystic:

It is pathetic that we have Somalis who deny other Somalis the right to have Greater Somalia.

where did I say greater somalia. re-read my comments as respond approprietly.

Kamal you must have amnesia or something.

 

Let me quote what you said in another thread...

 

“for your information Mystic you need to adjust to things on the ground................... the idea of Somaliweyn waa dhamaatay. USC/ICU muderer, and rapist, thinking to bring power back to their hand again. this puzzle that USC/ICU meant not to solve.”

 

You basically said the concept of Greater Somalia is Dead. Maybe you should be the one re-reading your posts!

[king_450]

Why on earth one have to mimick about Greater Somalia. Reality is there will never be again what used to be Somalia point and simple. But will it be possible perhaps in one condition Hang those *******s who raped,looted and killed and still pretending to be God's choosen ones.

So there will never be a greater somalia again.

[Wisdom_Seeker]

King if we are to start killing all those who had committed crimes then we shall start with the president who is the biggest warlord to have claimed presidency!

 

Your signature states "Always believe in yourself and your dreams."

 

Well i have a dream of seeing a Greater Somalia one day. And i could careless what tribe you are from, if you have committed a crime either you will be prosecute by the law or you will have to answer to Allah the All-Mighty!

 

Either ways there is no way out.

[king_450]

Mystic i could care less who is who.Anyone who have terrorized any somalis ,raped or killed must be chopped his/her head. So let the heads roll.

[Wisdom_Seeker]

Let me clean my sword then

[Kamalu Diin]

Originally posted by king_450:

Mystic i could care less who is who.Anyone who have terrorized any somalis ,raped or killed must be chopped his/her head. So let the heads roll.

I do agree with you ............ this is my favorite subject man. I wish I had the ability to do so. Insha allahi. we will get them where ever they are who every they are, we will get them. period.

Raas kimboni to raas xaafuun to Ali Sabeex refugee camp.

[Cindrella]

this isnt a suprise Kenya and Ethiopia are allies.The only reason those two countries are alley is just to make sure somalia doesnt success in forming a government.

[Kamalu Diin]

How about If I say USC/ICU is only obstacle to Somalia Success. Warmonger.