Xudeedi Posted April 22, 2007 Historic Facts and Hurdles to Peace in Somalia - Idris Ahmed Osman The historic facts under-tallied are undeniably there and shall never cease to harass us, until we come to our conscience and unite in peace, but the question which still reels over us is, are we serious about everlasting peace?. Shall we develop an inner conscience in compromising, sacrificing and showing forbearing after all these destruction?. Coincidentally while writing this article, the UN is reporting looming catastrophe in Somalia, where a large number of people are fleeing the conflict in Mogadishu. There is extremely severe shortage of food and water. Our beloved children are dying of cholera outbreak; there is no adequate supply of medicine to treat wounded victims in Hospitals. Demonizing the presence of the Ethiopian army in Somalia and its withdrawal being placed as a condition for peace talks, national reconciliation and negotiation, why not give it at least a last chance, Ethiopian troops should withdraw, sit face to face and frankly listen to each other. Furthermore, if cease fire could be achieved by the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops, an alternative peace keeping force, neutral third party acceptable to all warring groups, for instance from any of the OIC member countries could be called in to supervise the national reconciliation process. Moreover, given the current most awful situation, it is worth giving the cease fire and peace talks taboo the benefit of the doubt and probing the credibility thereof. It is evident that both the TNG and opposing group have its own arguments to justify its war. What is that of Ethiopia? But still this should not be an everlasting excuse to keep shedding more blood of civilians. After two decade long of one party iron fist rule, there is a mentality bent on a covert apprehension and abhorrence of falling into the same appalling circumstances for another two decades to come; hence even if politically defeated, not so in the battle ground wrestling is the main principle of the armed groups. The lack of breakthrough emanates from the total absence of confidence whereby each group is doubtful and wary of being cunningly trapped into an inescapable irrevocable thorough overpowering by the other. Therefore Ethiopian troops are being kept in the country as a body guard for the TNG. The pitiful and desperate appeal for cease-fire is being disregarded and ignored. Total impartiality, shrugging off, to the destruction and demise of the land and innocent people respectively, is being practiced. The end to this deadlock comes only by acknowledging that no government, regime or group can totally ignore or suppress the presence of any category of the society dissatisfied with an injustice and denial of rights. Such as the large number of peaceful population marginalized and categorized as unarmed minorities. And either through the mediation of an absolutely neutral third party acceptable to fighting parties in an ultimate country-wide peace talks and reconciliation, or by practice of self restraint and curb of desires by all armed groups, whereby any external interference whosoever would be totally excluded and Somalis should solve their problems by themselves in, nowhere else but, their own country. This is modern Ethiopia and Historic Abyssinia: One of the countries on the hub of the river Nile, Ethiopia has borders on the east with Djibouti, Somalia and Eritrea, The Sudan on the north east and Kenya on the south. After the emergence of Eritrea as a separate independent state, Ethiopia is left without any access to a harbour. An access to water, as means of communication and transport to the outer world, is as important to humans as it is to Fish. (Somalia enjoys the second largest beach in Africa). The name "Ethiopia" is a Greek word meaning people with burnt skin. The Arabs called them Habasha (Abyssinia) after the Habshat tribe which crossed the red sea from Yemen and settled in Africa in the seventh and tenth centuries before Christ (Allaihi Salaam). The Habasha trace back their chronology to Ham, the son of Prophet Noah (Allaihi Salaam). The year 2000 official census estimated the population of Ethiopia to 65 million, 55% of whom are Muslims. There are around 80 languages, the official of which is Amharic. Arabic is one of the major languages spoken by the Oromo and Afar people. As Italian and English are both spoken to some extent. There are growing number of religions and sects in Ethiopia though the government claims secularism. Many Christian missionaries (specially the so called Jehovah's witnesses) are currently actively operating in the region. The demographic percentage of religious beliefs are 55% Islam, 25% Christianity, while the rest are either idol worshippers or godless. Idol worship dominated the region in the past till Christianity leaked into it through international relations with the Byzantine Empire in Egypt. The first Church was built therein by Fromnos, who was sent by Athnaseos the Egyptian Patriarch, who convinced King Azana of Abyssinia to embrace Christianity in the year 350 CE. The first point of Islamic contact with Abyssinia was when in the year 615 CE its king Nagesh (may Allah be pleased with him) welcomed the strong delegation of 83 men and 17 women, companions of the prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) to Ethiopia. Some of them returned to Medina but others remained in Abyssinia to spread Islam. Then long afterwards, there were contacts between the Danakils and the Bani Amir tribe which once settled in the north of Abyssinia adjacent to the Egyptian frontiers. Likewise did the Arab Muslim migrants to the coastal areas of east Africa play great role in spreading the message of Islam in Ethiopia. The Islamic rise in Ethiopia can be divided into two parts: 1. The period of the Islamic power and progress. 2. The direct and indirect interference of the foreign powers in undermining further Islamic growth and thrive in Ethiopia. The attempts of putting an end to the Abyssinian pirates in the red sea carried out by AbdulMalik Ibn Marwan's army was an initial step, in overtaking control of the archipelago near the Mussawa port, which constituted a bridge of further Islamic extension and influence in the region. In the 3rd century of the Hijri calendar, numerous centers of Islamic emirates and sheikdoms originated along the red sea in east Africa. These centers were the beacon of Islamic knowledge. Ofed, Hadya, Dawro, Bali, Arebini, Sharha, Dara and Adale. Among the Sheikdoms were Mogadishu, Awan and Kilwa. These centers continued in its full gear function till early 14th century when it was annexed by King Omar Asyun I (The first). There is another well known historic event, in the first half of the 16th century CE, which most of us are, or should be, aware of. The Emir of the Adelite kingdom, Imam Ahmed Gurei, known to the Ethiopians as Ahmed Gragn, led a gallantry Islamic mission across southern Ethiopia. Imam Ahmed, a well known hero and devout Muslim, also performed a brave stand in the face of the Ethiopian invasion of the Islamic city of Harar in the year 1527 CE. On defeating the Ethiopian army, he further marched towards Amhara and Shoa in the year 1531 CE. He was able to introduce Islam to the Gala tribes in southern Ethiopia. In summary there were three main positive factors for the expansion of Islam in Ethiopia: The missionary struggle of Imam Ahmed ibn Ibrahem (Gurey) in the south. The Egyptian Muslim contact with northern Ethiopia. The Mehdi revolution in Sudan based in Qalabat city in eastern Sudan which introduced Islam to Ethiopia. Likewise has there been three major negative impacts to the shortcoming of the Islamic influence in Ethiopia: ** The decline of the Ottoman Empire which sponsored the Islamic caliphate/ ** The domination of its rivals on the territories under the former Ottoman protectorate. ** The links which the Christian Ethiopian governments established with the European countries, in order to weaken the influence and spread of Islam in the region. Despite all these difficulties, the most practical prejudice and pressure commenced when in 1889 Menilik II came to power in Ethiopia after the demise of King John. In succession, the Ethiopian governments despite their differences in ideology were united in their endeavour to persecute the Muslims and possibly drive them out of the country. Such rulers included Menilik II, Welig Basu, Zod Yetu (Daughter of Menilik), Rastafari Mekonen Heile Salasie, Mengistu Heile Mariam. Menilik II's attraction of strong support from the European countries enabled him to defeat the Italians in the battle of Adwe in 1895. Menilik II had a desire to extend his influence in the north and south of Somalia, had it not been, by the grace of Allah, that Imam Ahmed Gurey taught him a lesson till Menilik II was doomed with vanquish and ignominy. The European support for Menilik II was not without an exchange. He should wage war against the Islamic emirates and establishments in Ethiopia, set fire on their houses and divided the booty of their possessions to the Church, the government and the army. It is worth mentioning though, that King Beig Yesu who was grandson of Menilik ruled Ethiopia in 1913-1916 CE. He was an upright ruler who made justice to the Muslims. He even later reverted to Islam and took the national banner of Ethiopia encrypted with "There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad (salallahu alaihi wasallam) is the messenger of Allah". LAA ILAHA ILLALLAH MUHAMMADU RASULULLAH. Many Christian Ethiopians became Muslims in his time. Suddenly a red light alarm of danger was raised in Europe that called for his deposition and Zod Yetu daughter of Menilik stepped on the throne of her late father; after Zod Yetu's demise, Rastafari Mekonen Heile Salasie (1930-1974) who prided himself as Jewish descendent and the lion of Judah lead the campaign against Islam in Ethiopia and called himself Haile Salasie I. During his reign, Muslims in Ethiopia have never had witnessed such a miserable chastisement and plight ever before in their lives. His method of fighting the Islamic presence in Ethiopia included: ** Confiscating Muslim properties ** Depriving Muslims any access to education ** Destruction of Mosques, erecting Churches on its place, putting Muslims into exile. ** Conversion of Muslim children to Christianity ** Genocide against Muslims by falsely accusing them of revolt against the government ** Blocking possible help and support routes from Muslims in Eritrea, Sudan and Somali for the Ethiopian Muslims ** Barring any contact of Ethiopian Muslims with their brothers in the Muslim world ** Giving the Christian missionaries from overseas organization easy access and facilitating their operations in the predominantly Muslim populated regions of Ethiopia. ** Prevention of Muslim intellectuals from handling high posts within the government. Imprisonment and torture of Muslim scholars who spoke against the entry of the Christian missionaries in their all Muslim populated regions. In Harar prison alone, eight thousand (8000) Muslim prisoners were found who had been shackled neck to feet in a bow shape for twenty years. Some of them died as others did never recover from their backbone being bent like a bow forever. In a visit to the US, H. Salasie said in his speech at the Congress: Ethiopia is the only African Christian country which maintains the longest continuous historical relation with the Roman Empire. On the Muslims in Harar, he said, they are minorities who entered Ethiopia through Arab merchants and we have put a plan in place for them since 1832 CE. It will not take long as we shall never allow two religions in Ethiopia. General Mengistu Heile Mariam (1974-1990) continued with the same hostile policy towards Muslims in Ethiopia. During his rule, the Muslims have been placed under tight pressure; Mosques were either closed or got its activities controlled. He tried to play false favouritism among some Muslims, in a divide and rule policy, with object to turn Muslims against each other and the bloodiest wars in the 20th century horn of Africa erupted during his period of his presidency. Neither the East nor the West: How the historic spirit of unity and patriotism once functioned in our favour is quite impressive. In the 1977 war with Ethiopia at the peak of the cold war era, Soviet Union and US switched strategic sides. Mengistu Haile Mariam now back from exile and sentenced to life, then opted for the Marxist ideology and got the USSR on his side, naturally the US moved to the opposite end to Somalia. Even at this stage of loyalty we were lost in between as both world powers at the time have had no confidence in our real determination. Once most feared, well trained, and most powerful in the region during the 1970-1980s, Somali army moved forward in full fierce towards Addis Ababa. Former US president Jimmy Carter commenting on the historic event says: "We saw to it that Somalia should not be allowed to succeed in trying to take Ethiopian territories". It was more a matter of counter-balancing the communist power presence in the region than faithfully standing side by side with an ally. Furthermore Carter says: “The US did not have any interest in the horn of Africa except in counteracting against the Soviet challenge as this would pose a threat to the stability of Africa". The US national security advisor at the time, Bigniev Brezizinky, confirms the above mentioned by assimilating the US arms supply to the Somali government with a mere strategic performance to limit the communist expansion in the region. On the other side, Petr Charligy, the Soviet military mission in Ethiopia says: "The Ethiopians could not have defeated the Somali military in such a short period of time even with our help, but the Cuban army hugely sacrificed in this conflict". The Cuban president, Castro, says: “That was the only operation we conducted with the Soviet Union, no such operation took place even in Latin America". Petr Charligy, the Soviet military mission in Ethiopia concludes: “We thought about occupying Somalia but this would deteriorate our relations with the US, Britain and others". With careful analysis of the previous horn of Africa conflict, it is evident that the main powers at the time were fighting proxy war with no consideration to the interests of the involved parties, especially Somalia. The Soviets who have had been accommodated and once gotten unique privilege to the country's main resources for over a decade turned into a bitter adversary within days of Mengistu's adoption of the communist system. The US, besides carefully administered the doses of weapon supply to Somalia such that only equal balance of US power presence visa-a-vis USSR could be achieved. Now that the Soviet Union is no more existent, the vacuum should be filled in by another created imaginary super power model in order to perpetuate the challenge. Psychologists explain this phenomenon, on defeating the major threat, as a case of imaginary phobia from a potential powerful rival in future. I wonder, does relatively very tiny and war ravaged Somalia (a little larger than the size of Texas) constitute a fraction of the global ghostly super power rival ?. If so, why are the innocent civilians, mainly women and children, paying the price? . Idris Ahmed Osman E-Mail: idahos@hotmail.com PS. Jimmy Carter and the horn of Africa: Cold war policy in Ethiopia and Somalia-Donna R. Jackson. The Soviet Union in the horn of Africa: The diplomacy of intervention and disengagement (Cambridge Russian, Soviet and post-Soviet studies) Robert G. Patman. The Call to Islam-Ismael Yagi and Thomas Arnold-Translation by Hasan Ibrahem in AlNahdha Al Masriya-Cairo-issue 1997 page 137-138. (Arabic version). Studies on African History- Abdulkarem Gharabeyah (Arabic version). Who rescues Ethiopia-AlManar Islamic Magazine-Atef Idris- issue: December1990, page 55 (Arabic version). Arabs on the threshold of 21st century-Heikal-Al Mustaqbal Al-Arabi Magazine-Beirut-issue: 1994, Vol 19, page 11. (Arabic version). Www.youtube.com7-The 1977 war between Somali and Ethiopia Source: Dhahar Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
