Will there be new US Actions in the Horn?
By Scott A Morgan
Feature Article | Fri, 07 Aug 2009
Feature Article | Fri, 07 Aug 2009
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The US Secretary of State is making Her first Official visit to Africa and initial observations are that Mrs. Clinton is doing remarkably well in this capacity.
Her First stop was in Kenya and this was where two major concerns of the Obama Administration were being addressed. We all remember back in January 2008 when the country convulsed in an orgy of Violence after a controversial Presidential Election. The Country has a Coalition Government but has yet to bring those responsible for the killings to Justice.
Currently Kenya has a crucial role to play in US Policy towards the Horn of Africa. The Port of Mombasa is the location where the Somali Pirates are brought to when they are captured on the high seas. Its Proximity to Somalia also makes it a key point of interest to Counterterrorism Specialists here in the US. There are some people who believe that Somalia could become to Kenya like what Afganistan is to Pakistan.
The Other Point of Interest is Somalia. The US has had an interesting History in Somalia since the end of the Cold War. Allies after the Ogaden War of the late 1970s and then US Troops in the Country during the early 1990s which led to 18 Elite US Soldiers being killed in a Firefight and now concerns over Piracy and Islamic Extremism are the highlights of US Concern.
The US Secretary of State made two crucial statements regarding US Interests in Somalia. First of all is the Fact that the US will again be providing an Arms Shipment to Mogadishu. Earlier this year the Obama Administration provided 40 tons of Ammunition to the Transitional National Government as it attempts to keep an Islamist Militia from gaining power. Sadly the US has not taken any position regarding Somaliland except for that it is concerned over the recent discarding of election rolls. Elections in Somaliland are scheduled to occur on September 27th.
And Once again the US had strong criticism for Eritrea and its reported involvement in Somalia. For several years the US has claimed that Eritrea was supporting the Islamist Insurgents in Somalia. The Situation in Somalia is not the only place where relations between Asmara and Washington have become sour. Tensions between Eritrea and both Djibouti and Ethiopia are still simmering at this time. However the US has threatened to retaliate against Eritrea for its Policies in Somalia.
Before some people get giddy over the idea of Air Strikes there has to be some time for Economic Sanctions to work. There are ample areas of concern regarding Human Rights in Eritrea as well so there could be some action taken in the near future in the Horn of Africa. But some people may not think the action taken is tough enough.
Her First stop was in Kenya and this was where two major concerns of the Obama Administration were being addressed. We all remember back in January 2008 when the country convulsed in an orgy of Violence after a controversial Presidential Election. The Country has a Coalition Government but has yet to bring those responsible for the killings to Justice.
Currently Kenya has a crucial role to play in US Policy towards the Horn of Africa. The Port of Mombasa is the location where the Somali Pirates are brought to when they are captured on the high seas. Its Proximity to Somalia also makes it a key point of interest to Counterterrorism Specialists here in the US. There are some people who believe that Somalia could become to Kenya like what Afganistan is to Pakistan.
The Other Point of Interest is Somalia. The US has had an interesting History in Somalia since the end of the Cold War. Allies after the Ogaden War of the late 1970s and then US Troops in the Country during the early 1990s which led to 18 Elite US Soldiers being killed in a Firefight and now concerns over Piracy and Islamic Extremism are the highlights of US Concern.
The US Secretary of State made two crucial statements regarding US Interests in Somalia. First of all is the Fact that the US will again be providing an Arms Shipment to Mogadishu. Earlier this year the Obama Administration provided 40 tons of Ammunition to the Transitional National Government as it attempts to keep an Islamist Militia from gaining power. Sadly the US has not taken any position regarding Somaliland except for that it is concerned over the recent discarding of election rolls. Elections in Somaliland are scheduled to occur on September 27th.
And Once again the US had strong criticism for Eritrea and its reported involvement in Somalia. For several years the US has claimed that Eritrea was supporting the Islamist Insurgents in Somalia. The Situation in Somalia is not the only place where relations between Asmara and Washington have become sour. Tensions between Eritrea and both Djibouti and Ethiopia are still simmering at this time. However the US has threatened to retaliate against Eritrea for its Policies in Somalia.
Before some people get giddy over the idea of Air Strikes there has to be some time for Economic Sanctions to work. There are ample areas of concern regarding Human Rights in Eritrea as well so there could be some action taken in the near future in the Horn of Africa. But some people may not think the action taken is tough enough.
The Author Publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet and Comments on US Policy in Africa. Confused Eagle can be found at morganrights.tripod.com
Source: Scott A Morgan"The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Modernghana.com." To have your articles publish, please submit them to editor@modernghana.com.
Comments To This Article
3 readers have commented so far on this story. And below this page is a sample of the latest comments published. Or you can also click view all to read all comments that readers have sent in.
u r full of sh*t
alex g | san diego-ca (United States) | 8/7/2009 7:09:00 AM
Let me remind u that eritrea got its independence by defeating the largest African Army that were supported by the west and east. Eritrean don't knee down like the rest of africans and compromises their interest over the interest of imperialist and expanisnst. So the threat of sanction, or being level as terrorist state will change nothing in the ground. This only shows the frustration that a failed policy has created within washington and its puppet Australia which is being used as a tool in the consipercy against eritrea. Once again we all eritrean will double our contributions to our country in all field in order to foil this evil plot. victory to eritrea and defeat to evildoers.
Will there be new US Action in
Ahmed | Calgary-Canada (Canada) | 8/7/2009 7:19:00 PM
The Horn region has been a trouble spot in Africa since early 1960s and people in the region has been suffering that long.However, the immediate problem now is Somalia's civil war with its implications in the region. Somalia's problem is twofolds. Firstly, Somalia itself and secondly the neighbouring countries of the Horn region.
One way of dealing with it is follows:
First take care of the neighbours.
* Help stop neighbouring countries to fight their proxy war in Somalia which they have been doing lately. These countries are Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Kenya. Djibouti because of its size and resources is not a main player. Warning Eritrea alone will probably not do it because they are competing with Ethiopia for influence and as long as Ethiopia is involved in Somalia's affairs Eritrea will play cat and mouse game with it.
Once the regional interference is dealt with, then you are left with Somalia itself.
Somalis have suffered a lot for the last 18 years and that has been because of lack of central government. Now they are terrorized by ruthless Al-shabab who introduced the country an alien and peculiar brand of Islam which Somalis have never known.
What needs to be done is reinforce and empower the weak transitional governmental who is no match to various oppositions, particularly Al-shabab.
It is worth noting that Al-shabab is supported by the Somalis. Instead Al-shabab is holding hostage the whole southern part of the country and people are terrorised by them.
HornOF Africa/Crisis in Ogaden
Gor-gor | Somalia-Horn (Djibouti) | 8/8/2009 7:57:00 AM
I think,the mother of all problems are the artifical border and geopolitics including the marginalization of Ogaden people and hope Independance of those people reached sooner,including Oromia,Sidama, Afars,Ayuaks etc.without justice nothing can work out.
