ADDIS ABABA – Taking into account the intertwined fate, Ethiopia has been coordinating diplomatic, security and military organs with Gulf countries to tackle common security concerns and has remained a critical actor in the fight against terrorism and extremism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, MoFA Middle East Affairs Director General Ambassador Shamebo Fitamo stated that the security in the Arabian Gulf region is directly or in directly affects Ethiopia’s crucial national interest.
Accordingly, Ethiopia and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states have signed security agreements and cooperating in action and exchanging information to keep the security and stability of the two regions.
Ambassador Shamebo indicated that Gulf countries and the IGAD region which Ethiopia is a member in are conducting a dual cooperation to coordinate their efforts on the Red Sea security pact taking in to account security problems and political turmoil have a spillover effect in the respective regions.
Noting that the two regions are highly threatened by militant groups including Al-Qaida, ISIS and Al-Shabaab as well as religious extremism, he indicated that political unrest, piracy and the presence of weak and dead states have also caused serious security problems.
“The war in Yemen and Syria, the rift between Saudi Arabia lead Gulf countries with Qatar, the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as between USA and Iran, and the dispute between Israel and Palestinians and the security of Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have been remained momentous challenges,” the ambassador added.
The peace problem in South Sudan and Somalia, early political transformation in Sudan, irregular migration and displacement, illicit money transfer and illegal movements of military equipment and the Nile water dispute also need a common security arrangement with Gulf nations.
To tackle security challenges, Ethiopia has been deploying peace keeping forces in the Horn of Africa under the frameworks of IGAD, AU and UN and conducting undeserved effort in supporting peace processes in South Sudan, Sudan and Somalia.
The country has also been closely working with Gulf states to seek ways to resolve conflicts in the Horn of Africa through peaceful means.
“As a peace loving nation, Ethiopia has shown a neutral position so that peace and stability to come into the Gulf region,” he noted, adding that the country believes and has shown political and diplomatic efforts that the conflict and rift between the GCC states should be resolved in peaceful way with round table discussions.
Ethiopia believes in the importance of diplomatic resolution of disputes and it will contribute its share in the efforts towards resolving the row among Gulf countries. Accordingly, the country backs the initiative taken by the Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to solve the problem through peaceful means.
Ethiopia will continue its commitment and role in the future as well to maintain the regional peace and stability in collaboration with other IGAD member states; with its GCC and the Middle East partners as well as Global actors under the umbrellas of AU and the UN, Ambassador Shamebo remarked.
The Ethiopian Herald March 31/2020
BY BILAL DERSO
