BY JOSEPH SOBOKA
As a matter of fact, every legal measure Ethiopia takes for her national security is unanimously encountered by many western countries and the United States unjustifiably. This issue has been a mystery to Ethiopians. Many have virtually been bewildered by such a sudden shift of international relationship; had the shift been with one or two countries, it would not have been a big deal. Yet, the situation is rather strange and questionable as almost all western countries and the United States turned their back on Ethiopia.
Under no circumstance can Ethiopia have boundary conflict with all these countries. The problem seems to have emerged out of the blue. Anything that Ethiopia does to protect her national interests falls within close surveillance to be adversely reacted to by the international community.
For a country to carry out offensive or defensive operation using any type of conventional warfare facilities to maintain its sovereignty is universally legitimate. A government is worth the name only if it proves its capability to defend its citizens against the aggression of the enemy. No government sits back and watches the country falling into anarchy and in ultimate destruction of the country. This is rather an utter national catastrophe which should be disdained and absolutely avoided by all; identity and nationality pride are hinged on the security of a country.
An example of China carrying out military operation in Hong Kong, the country she claims to be part of the greater China, did not attract international attention half as much as the air strike Ethiopia carried out in Mekele.
As a matter of fact, Ethiopian air force is intent on defending the nation through the control and exploitation of air and space within its territory. Although it is obviously tasked with flying missions, most personnel work on the ground in various construction, support and technical capacities. Air Force, airpower gives Ethiopia the ability to control and exploit this ultimate high ground that is essential to winning the Nation’s wars. No other service, or combination of services, can deliver the capability and capacity that the Air Force provides to the warfighter in Ethiopia’s core mission areas. The mission of the Ethiopian Air Force is to fly, fight and win – airpower anytime, anywhere. Whether full time, part time, in or out of uniform, everyone serves and plays a critical role in helping Ethiopia achieve it mission successfully – thus the mission is accomplished.
Air force gives Ethiopia the ability to control and exploit this ultimate high ground that is essential to winning the nation’s wars. No other service, or combination of services, can deliver the capability and capacity that the Ethiopian Air Force provides to the warfighter in the core mission area, particularly in north Ethiopia.
The United States’ Iraqi and Afghanistan indiscriminate air strikes with much higher intensity which took a heavy toll of the two nations’ civilians and yet nothing is done, just ignored. Even if it was mentioned, it might have been in the attackers’ favor. As a result of such harsh operation, the social fabrics of the countries are in shambles and are torn asunder and are still left to political and economic uncertainty.
When the news the Ethiopian air strike in Mekele was heard, the situation immediately raised a question that could loom over the Ethiopia’s action for some time. The question is, are those strikes legal under international law? The baseline rule is that countries can’t bomb each other’s territory, because that would be a violation of the target country’s sovereignty.
Ethiopia’s case is entirely different from this; the air strike is an operation to maintain law and order within her own territory. She did it to fulfill her domestic requirement otherwise the situation in Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions could have been unimaginably terrible. Ethiopia relies on the principles of sovereignty to conduct her domestic policy. No country dare tell her what and what not to do pertaining to her internal affairs.
For instance, the international community is currently pressuring Ethiopia to abandon her operation of enforcing the law and order on the grounds that her actions there violate Tigrian sovereignty as if Tigray is an independent state in the state. They seem to support the illegality of the TPLF despite the complicated problems caused by the TPLF. This is nothing other than interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign country. The right of self-defense in the name of national security goes without saying.
Ethiopia is not answerable to any power regarding the air strike she carries out within her own territory. These countries that condemn Ethiopia for the operation would not at all tolerate the situation if it happened in their countries. They seem to follow the principle of who cares for the dead fish except the fisher man. To them Ethiopia is an insignificant country somewhere in Africa. Whatever happens to her citizens, no serious consideration should be given.
Since any nation’s administration doesn’t have legal authorization of the UN for the air strikes on Ethiopian troops, some nations seriously pursue the policy of destabilization in Ethiopia based on the pretext of human rights violation.
Their legal argument for the strikes against the carefully identified targets, especially in military targets, is just okay in the face of the situation Ethiopia finds herself. All the time, there was no similar alarming speed of report on the air strike by the international media. When the TPLF was shelling civilians in Afar and Amhara regions of Ethiopia, the humanitarian agencies did all they could to cover up for the atrocities done to the poor and innocent civilians by the TPLF. What is the crime Ethiopia has committed to the world to deserve such inimical response from many countries?
What is the undercover vow made against Ethiopia that draws some western countries and the United States together to inflict harm on this poor country? Is it the philosophy, the stronger party can do to the weaker to achieve their vicious objectives? The mystery will remain hidden until Ethiopia eventually prevails by clinging to the truth no matter what it costs. Ethiopia is determined to die on her feet than live on her knees. The hope looms over a not too-distant horizon.
Coming back to the issue, obviously, it is not what Ethiopia would want to rely on if she had any better options, but she probably did it in a pinch for the sake of civilians’ life. As for the targets, the junta depends on them for the maintenance of weapons and fuel depots and training facilities to fight the rest of Ethiopians, the case which the enemies of Ethiopia, the international media are not willing to accept its tangible truth.
The allegation that the strike targeted the market place where many people gathered is utterly unfounded as there were no heavy casualties or dead people expected from such circumstance. May be the junta is trying to repeat history as it did to the Dergue military junta in the early 90s before coming to power. But the popular army whose sole purpose is to defend the country against the enemy does not commit such an atrocious act on its own citizens, not even on its enemies that fight it. With the same impetus, human life is valued precious to the highly trained and disciplined Ethiopian air force. Even previously The Ethiopian Air Force was among the most reputed in Africa. Its training culture is so seasoned that it is capable of accomplishing its mission with minimum human loss. Unintended mistake, if ever, the chances are extremely low while in action.
Currently, while the country is engaged in war with the enemy its contribution is highly needed. No government on the face of the earth allows its enemy to move from place to place unchecked; thus, Ethiopia uses her planes to strike the targets and do away with them successfully.
The Ethiopian Herald October 30/2021
