BY BILAL DERSO
ADDIS ABABA – Having realized the abolishment of the TPLF-dominated client regime in Ethiopia and the emergence of independent-minded nations in the Horn of Africa that have sought strong political and economic partnership, some Western powers discontented in the Horn’s dynamics, a renowned political scholar claimed.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Addis Ababa University African Studies Professor Getachew Kassa (PhD) said that the Horn’s strategic importance to international trade and security has intensified some world powers’ quest for a client state whereby TPLF had been junior partner. Home to over 100 million people and a very strong military and abundant natural resources, the pre-reform Ethiopia had remained the key instrument in serving the special interest group in the region.
The scholar further stated that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s (PhD) came to power in 2018 was a game changer that could significantly revitalize the Horn politics and transform Ethiopia’s relations with Eritrea and Somalia from hostilities to friendship and competition to cooperation.
“Apart from his noble achievement in creating a new Ethiopia that asserts itself in international arenas, Abiy’s approach has brought a peaceful relationship and brotherhood between Ethiopia and Somalia for the first time in the two countries’ modern history.” Ethiopia has played a meaningful role in brokering peace between the Mogadishu government and warring factions and the war has not been ongoing since Abiy came to power.
As to him, significant achievements have also been gained in the two economic frontier and Ethiopia has been involved in port development in the Indian Ocean and direct flights between two countries have also been resumed. Ethiopia has offered training and other capacity building programs to Somalia.
Amidst Egyptians heavy destructive attempts, Ethiopia has formed a strong relationship with the neighboring Somaliland and the acquisition of 19 percent share in Berbera Port is instrumental to its vision of enhancing access to the sea and diversifying the outlets, Getachew elaborated.
On the other hand, this regional development is also interlinked with the ideal partnership and cooperation Ethiopia and Djibouti have enjoyed over years.
Also, Ethiopia could use at least one of the ports in the Horn to the reestablished naval forces as the naval base furthering its security cooperation with numerous countries.
The truce Ethiopia has made with Eritrea is contributing to the peaceful relations between Djibouti and Eritrea as the former took the initiative to help the two countries resolve their difference through negotiations. Ethiopia has also made meaningful participation to bring Sudanese conflicting parties to the round table and reconcile Sudan and South Sudan.
Getachew highlighted that the best thing to break the Western influence Horn states sit and think about how they can cooperate in the economic field and also to stop the intervention through supporting rebel groups of one or the other. “If they can broaden cooperation, they can avoid such Western intervention and they should be careful and watchful on not dividing themselves for the sake of Western interest.”
By the same token, employing the regional block IGAD to resolve security disputes needs equal consideration as through this means African problems would get African solutions and not be referred to colonial institutions including the UN, the scholar remarked.
The Ethiopian Herald July 17/2021
