Apart from delving the Horn of Africa into the unexplored realms, Egypt’s backseat driving and deeds against the law that have been going behind closed doors and behind the scenes in Somalia are a hazard to regional stability in the Horn of Africa and beyond.
Taking seriously the domino effects of Egypt’s blunderous moves into account, the wider international community should play their part without batting an eye before the entire situation in the Horn of Africa ends up going from the frying pan into the fire.
It is widely acknowledged that since the dawn of history, Egypt has not ever contributed to ensure stability and peace in conflict affected and war torn areas. In actual fact, Egypt’s history in black and white demonstrates this circumstance on the ground and concert reality.
Under the pretense of a broad range of barefaced lies, Egypt has been directly or indirectly bending over backwards to interfere in the internal affairs of Ethiopia though all their efforts turned out to be a wild goose chase.
Since the laying of the corner for the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Egypt has been making every possible effort to drag the promising moves of the country in a diverse range of ways and in a number of respects.
Although the country encountered challenges following the construction of the flagship dam, all their endeavors went for nothing due to the federal government and the people of Ethiopia’s commitment and determination.
In favor of Egypt’s illegal move, the Arab League has been over and over again releasing a broad range of biased statements that do not reflect the existing reality on the ground on the topic of the dam.
In a thought-provoking interview with the Ethiopian News Agency, a prominent scholar, Yakob Arsano, who also represented Ethiopia on several international negotiations, emphasized the importance of strengthening border security and fostering regional partnerships to safeguard against potential threats, according to ENA.
The scholar highlighted Egypt’s involvement in Somalia as a potentially destabilizing force in Northeast Africa, urging those nations there to critically examine it.
According to Yakob, Egypt’s presence is possibly motivated by self-interest, particularly its desire to control the Nile River, rather than any genuine intent to support peace in Somalia.
“Egypt has not shown a reliable record in combating terrorism, even within its own borders,” Yakob observed. He argued that Egypt’s influence in Somalia is possibly part of a broader strategy to weaken Ethiopia, with the Nile River at the center of its agenda.
Following the current escalation in the region, Ethiopia warned that such maneuvers of actors from outside the Horn of Africa region undermine efforts in eliminating terrorist groups that are causing chaos and mayhem on the people of the region.
Particularly, Ethiopia urged Egypt as a downstream country to choose the path of negotiation and international law as well as reorient its colonial-based policy on the Abbay (Nile River).
Egypt’s presence in Somalia could create lasting repercussions for the region. And he warned that this irresponsible act might be unfolding in Somalia.
If Egypt fails to establish control, he cautioned, abandoned weapons could fall into the hands of terrorist groups, posing immediate threats to both Somalia and Ethiopia.
In a similar way, on the heels of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland, the Arab League and Egypt expressed their commitment to supporting Somalia and back the region into a corner.
It is true that for years Somalia has been battling with terrorist networks housing themselves in the Horn of Africa for the most part in Somalia. To everyone’s dismay, Egypt has not ever made an effort to fight the radical factions that has been working around the clock to put between the devil and the deep sea and between a rock and a hard place.
Regarding the evil deeds of the Arab League and Egypt wicked deeds, various scholars have been expressing their feelings in a number of respects and in a variety of ways.
Speaking to The Ethiopian Herald, Trans-boundary River Senior Advisor and Trilateral Negotiation Technical Committee Chair Gedion Asfaw (Eng.) recently stated that Egypt’s approach in the Abbay Dam contradicts the continental motto of seeking African solutions to African predicaments.
“The construction of the dam is complying with the 2015 Declaration of Principles (DoP) signed among the three countries namely Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt in Khartoum. Nile is found in Africa and the dam is an African project but Egypt keeps politicizing the issue and attempted to internationalize the matter by dragging the Arab League, which has no mandate to convey in the subject.”
Attempting to take the matter out of Africa hampers the AU’s aspiration of settling contentious issue amicably. Such kind of move is not constructive for Egypt and negotiation is the only way to reach a lasting solution.
Asking support from third parties, which they don’t contribute share for the water is not justifiable measure and Egypt’s usual allegation of the Abay Dam brings harm to it is proven unscientific and incorrect in the past three successful fillings.
There is no gainsaying the fact that since time immemorial Ethiopia has been moving heaven and earth with the object of ensuring peace and tranquility in the length and breadth of the Horn of Africa fighting with terrorist networks.
There is broad agreement that Ethiopia has been working around the clock to make the region a safe haven for the inhabitants of the region and bolster regional integration.
It is common knowledge that Ethiopia has made sacrifices for restoring peace and tranquility in Somalia. The country has been fighting against terrorists housing themselves in the length and breadth of the Horn of Africa region in the shortest possible time.
It is believed that Egypt’s unholy marriage does not enable the Horn of Africa region to get back on the right track except taking the region from a lesser evil to a greater one and from one disaster one another. As long as the interest of Egypt in Somalia is not to maintain peace in Somalia but to throw the region in at the deep end, the wider international community should stand against this evil deed.
Fundamentally, the placement of Egyptian soldiers as peacekeepers is not a direct threat to Ethiopia, but it requires special attention and preparedness. The country has to concentrate on augmenting its growth while hunting a careful tactic towards its security in the volatile region.
Professor Yacob Arsano in the recent past told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the League has not registered a single success in protecting member states’ stability in its over 78 years of existence.
“Having 22 member states, including Sudan, Somalia, and Djibouti, the League has been dominated by Egypt, and the others have no place beyond participating in the annual meeting. “As a manifestation of the League’s inability, it could be nothing important when Iraq and Libya entered into state collapse.”
The Arab League is an organization that turned a blind eye and deaf ear to the crisis in its member states and it would make nothing impactful other than recapping the crisis. Surprisingly, the League holds meetings and releases statements on every issue that Egypt considers would harm its greedy interests.
Making use of the League as a tool, Egypt is trying to compensate for its failure in the Abbay Dam negotiation and to revenge Ethiopia which succeeded in establishing the Nile Basin Initiative, the scholar emphasized.
Ethiopia expressed its concern over the expanding militarization of Egypt into the Horn of Africa (HoA) could help terrorist Al-Shabaab to recuperate from armament shortage.
No matter how hard they work to destabilize the Horn of Africa, making use of a diverse set of treacheries, they have been time and again failing to make their dreams become a reality.
As a matter of fact, Egypt has been working around the clock to utilize the colonial era pact with a view to dominating the water of the Nile River. It is certain that Ethiopia is widely known for respecting worldwide guidelines, attaching due emphasis to equitable and reasonable use of its own natural resources.
Peoples of the Horn of Africa should work in close collaboration with the intention of ensuring lasting peace in every nook and cranny of the region. In this way, achieving the desired goal will be as easy as falling off a log.
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 10 NOVEMBER 2024
