Ethiopian Review

By Scott Morgan

When it comes to US Policy in the Horn of Africa most of the Focus is on the current fiasco in Somalia. Then other concerns are Eritrea and Kenya.

One area that does not generate much interest is the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. This area which is along the border with Somalia was the scene of a Border War in the late 1970s which has repercussions to this day.

During that conflict Ethiopia was allied with the Soviet Union. Somalia switched its allegiance to the United States after the USSR switched its support to Addis Ababa.

Recently a conference was held in San Diego to discuss the Situation in the Ogaden. The Actions taken by the Ethiopian Government to keep this region in the country are comprable to what has been occuring in Darfur. But unlike Darfur there has not been any groundswell demanding the violence cease or that the US take action. After all the US and Ethiopia are currently allies.

The area in question has a large Somali Population demanding Self-Determination. The Zenawi Regime has been resistant to programs that increase Education for Women and the Poor. The region has also been suffering from drought and the rise of Somali Islamists are another reason for concern as well.

A Representative of the State Department told a Conference of those Concerned with the Situation in San Diego that the US maintains close relations with Ethiopia but Allies can disagree. The US favors Diplomacy over Military Operations to resolve this situation and that the US takes this situation seriously.

How seriously is this? An effort to link US Arms Sales to the Human Rights Climate stalled in Congress, Twice Ethiopia has intervened in Somalia at the behest of the US with Military and CIA support and Governance Concerns remain an issue. These are serious disagreements if one is asked.

(Scott Morgan is a regular contributor for EthiopianReview.com.)