Jiibouti: A Double Agent says SL Times

[Somali_Friend]

jibouti: A Double Agent

ISSUE 257

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ANALYSIS

 

December 23, 2006

 

Observers of the Horn Africa are puzzled by the US’s lack of leverage in effecting a change in the behavior of states in the region that have consistently acted against US interests. Two obvious examples are Sudan and Eritrea. But a less known example is Djibouti which poses as a friend of the United States and at the same time supports well known terrorist organizations such as the Islamic Courts of Mogadishu. Up to now, the prevalent explanation among Horn of Africa watchers has been that the US tolerates Djibouti’s support for the Islamic Courts because the US figured that the benefits it gains from its base in Djibouti outweigh the risks posed by Djibouti’s support for terrorists. But more recently, another explanation has been gaining ground, which is that the US puts up with Djibouti’s links with Mogadishu’s terrorist courts because Djibouti passes some of the intelligence it gathers on the courts to the US. If the latter explanation is true, it would mean that Djibouti is spying on the US for its allies in Mogadishu and at the same time spying on the Islamic Courts for the United States. This way, Djibouti is misleading both the United States and the Islamic Courts into thinking that Djibouti is their true friend. The question is, how long will it take for either or both the United States and the Islamic Courts, to realize that Djibouti is a double agent.

 

Source: The Somaliland Times

[Dhabat-Amaanreer]

djibuti is seen by somaliland as a clear and present danger to their hopes of recognition

 

recently djibouti kicked out somalilands pseudo-ambassador and it seems this is 'editorial backlash'

 

i dont think djibouti has the sophistication to play 'double agent'

[Somali_Friend]

Djibuti should be very careful. Somaliland can take it over and take Djibuti seat at the Arab league, AU and UN no questions asked.

 

Somalilanders would not mind being called Djibuti for a year or two and then change the name as many africans do to what ever they want.

 

The only obstacle to that is the Afar who most definitely would choose to join their kins in ethiopia. Its only a few hundred thousand where as in ethiopia its millions.

 

If the war had lasted some time, thats what would have happened and the US would see it as regime change and France is angry at being second fiddle in what it considered its own.

 

Since Ethiopia has good relations with both US and China, the EU is always uneasy with ethiopia. Most times EU is actually against ethiopia.

 

It is not easy being small is Djibuti and Eritrea's problem. They want to play the big games, but cannot be taken seriously.

[Kamalu Diin]

Djabuti will test the sour soon.