Without a shadow of doubt, security dynamics in the Horn of Africa region are wrought by states’ mutual interest in having a stable, prosperous as well as pacific region, on the one hand, and an inspirational competition between them on the other. The issue of peace and tranquility has highlighted that the dynamics among the region’s various security actors need to be ameliorated through firm coordination and heartily amalgamation instead of confrontation finding out minor holes.
Although there are a number of initiatives entertained across the region to deepen the policy dialogue on regional security cooperation, some countries are not in a position to fully accept the essence as there still crucial lines of division.
If truth be told and as past experiences would have it, Ethiopia has never thought of imposing significant harm on its neighbors seeking private gain; instead it is always working for the proliferation of the Horn in particular and the entire continent in general as it has long aspired to see a peaceful, well-off and just Africa.
Taking this crystal fact into account, other nations of the Horn and even others encompassed in the continent have to follow suit to grow together since nothing can be gained being rivalries and reflecting antagonistic gesture.
Rather than thinking of the region only as a product of some geopolitically and geospatially strategic sites, it is better to work hard together towards a more resilient and competent region and move in unison to meet the vision of the region to stand well on its own two feet.
The Horn of Africa has rightly been termed as one of Africa’s hot-spots when it comes to peace and security challenges. Since long back the region has comprised Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, by enlarging the understanding of security beyond physical violence, and it has seen security challenges arising from the spread of small arms, refugee flows, droughts and environmental degradation, as well as humanitarian crises, which all affected the region as a whole. Hence, it is high time for the states of the Horn to mingle all social, economic and even political and military dynamics so as to get the Horn and the continent emancipated forever from myriads of dependency.
Yes, the numerous security challenges of the Horn and beyond straddling national borders have required policy responses that equally take a regional rather than a national perspective, which entails moving as a single entity. Thanks to the gradual institutionalization of a regional peace-making architecture through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the East African Community (EAC) for these bodies have been holding clear mandates on peace and security.
The very point that needs to be well underscored in this regard is neighboring states have by no means been actual threat to each other/one another, but are expected to well cement their ties and push their progress forward. What matters in their thinking should be how they can interlink security muscles to prettily overcome the challenges in the region via translating talks, conventions and other manifestations of coordination, be there are bilateral, trilateral of multilateral ones, into effective cooperation.
However, the presence of distrust between regional elites and real or perceived security threats from neighboring states would absolutely hamper the prospects of a regional peace and security agenda.
Here their coordination and supporting each other have to be well reinvigorated for a more organized and stable region or continent. True, an internationally coordinated diplomatic strategy should also be forged for ending the wars throughout the entire Horn region, involving all regional dispute resolution capacity and mechanisms as well as commitment to end conflict and nurture growth.
Reinforcing democratic institution building in the Horn is also a critical element in a broader conflict resolution strategy, including support for responsive local administration, civil society, open media, future leadership, and democratic procedures. Development aid, trade and investment promotion, regional cooperation strategies, and economic reform advocacy could be integrated much more consciously into strategies that build for a more peaceful and placid future of the Horn.
It is widely recognized that from the dawn of history, Ethiopia has been taking a role in maintaining peace and security in the Horn of Africa. Apart from mobilizing its peacekeeping forces to nearby nations in the region, this grate east African nation has been going to the ends of the earth with a focus on fostering regional consolidation and taking the region to new benchmark and unexampled pinnacle.
Practically, Ethiopia has been demonstrating its determined commitment for restoring peace and tranquility effectuating every possible thing with the objective of accomplishing the appropriate goal at the earliest possible juncture. No matter what the challenges may be, the nation has sustained ensuring peace and tranquilly in the left, right and center of the region. In view of the preceding, the region has set in motion breathing a sigh of relief and reinforcing regional unification.
Unequivocally, Ethiopia has left no stone unturned with the motive of restoring peace and tranquilly in neighboring nations making the most of its effective skills.
Having all this fact, moving against Ethiopia’s stance is quite unfair as some neighboring countries are choosing not to collaborate with Ethiopia that has been unwavering in fostering regional stability and collaboration. Some neighboring countries had better rather join this trustworthy nation to push the success of the Horn forward and declare common growth and change being peace keepers all putting reservations, which could be addressed through round table discussions and close talks, aside.
Time and time again, Ethiopia’s peculiar contribution to ensuring peace and security in the Horn of Africa has been confidently witnessed by the broad international community, a number of nations and development partners, which have known the country closely. It is worth mentioning that Ethiopia’s high degree of fusion with nearby nations in the discourse of its unwearyingly support for the freedoms of African nations have been held in high regard by various nation and their people, too.
Furthermore, Ethiopia has been contributing a lot to the regional peace by exerting all possible efforts and mobilizing its peacekeeping mission in different parts of the continent in particular and that of the African continent and even the globe in general.
Undeniably, Ethiopia has been winning the hearts and minds of the international community as it has been getting involved in African matters with the intention of coming up with peace and composure in every nook and cranny of the continent of Africa.
Needless to state, Ethiopia has been playing a cardinal role in upholding the peace and security of the Horn region struggling with extremists working from dawn to dusk to help the region secure dependable stability.
Apart from striving for creating economic cooperation in the continent, Ethiopia has remained the largest troop contributor to AU and UN peacekeeping missions in Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, Sudan and Somalia, even beyond up to Korea.
The Horn of Africa has long been a focal point of strategic interest to outsiders. In fact, for many centuries, the Horn attracted international attention for three main reasons: strategic location; religious and ethnic diversity; and agricultural potential.
Undeniably, following its being unbelievably diverse in terms of religion, ethnic grouping, culture, language and social strata coupled with its geopolitical and geo-spatial strategic location, the Horn of Africa has confidently grabbed the attention of foreign nations. Unless such an incredible feature and untapped wealth is carefully managed and its states can move in unison to emancipate themselves from being dependent on others, probably on the developed world, change would be pushed apart from the continent.
Hence, all nations have to developed firm commitment and readiness as what Ethiopia has done so far for the sake of ensuring peace and security. Yes, it is the right time to get the Horn and beyond settled.
No question about it the Horn of Africa has been devoid of peace and stability owing to armed conflicts, violent crimes, religious extremism, social violence and political instability, interstate rivalry and cross-boundary skirmishes. Conflicts and instability in the region are mainly concentrated on or near the border areas diffusing out into the backwoods by armed sects. The time-tested remedy for this, honestly speaking, is moving together instead of wagging wars and developing aimless resentments against one another/ each other.
Africa will record absolute change by working together, indeed! Unambiguously and as stated over and over again, Ethiopia in particular and the Horn in general have strategically located and susceptible to any form of attack; therefore, the coordination of all the nations has to be the prime call of the day so the saying goes, ‘Unity is strength.’
Since Ethiopia has a comparatively brawny state than the neighboring countries, its being determinant is, therefore, flourishing through time as its economic, military and even political potential gets developed.
In general, Ethiopian neighboring states are expected to support the former as it is all the time working for the progress of the Horn region. Thus some countries, which are acting otherwise, had better revise their boulevard on which they are trekking to come up with meaningful regional cooperation. In so doing, it would be easy for all nations of the continent to successfully combat threats of insecurity.
The good thing is Ethiopia’s commitment to the stability of the Horn is widely acceptable as it targets at fulfilling the set goal of the Horn—being stable and competent in all forms of socioeconomic dynamism. Plus to this, the country has one of the biggest military forces in the region making it capable of confidently defending itself and the Horn. Since no one can garner benefit out of conspiring moves and excavating hostility, healing wounds, if any, by thoroughly discussing them is equaled by none.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
BY MENGESHA AMARE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2024
