Militarization and cold era-like confrontations among the world’s powerful nations are putting the already volatile region of Horn Africa under the cloud of uncertainty. Mainly, the strategic importance of the region is making it increasingly a hotbed of terrorism, human trafficking, piracy, and other imminent threats. External interests together with regional problems have been putting the region in a state of flux posing a domino effect to all members of this strategic location.
Though the interests of superpowers are further upping the ante, the Horn has already been seeing its fair share of setbacks emanating from the internal situations of the member countries. The failed transition in Sudan, the doldrums in South Sudan, the decade–long instability in Somalia, and conflicts between the countries have placed the entire region in make or break situation.
In fact, the tiny countries face mammoth security challenges behooving the nations to find a collective approach to their common problems. Separatism is not an option for Horn countries as it will lead the countries to perish together. Collectivism and amicability are the best prescriptions to turn the tide and most importantly to fight foreign adversaries. Surely, cooperation is the detrimental prerequisite towards a secured and prosperous Horn.
The geographic, historical, and cultural ties among the nation in this regard are vital ingredients to bolster cooperation in the region; these asses would yield nothing without proper diplomatic, economic and political maps though.
Lately, there have been promising moves between nations. Countries have agreed to sign security pacts and secure porous borders as well as ensure stability. And, last week, the region also saw a millstone with Somalia staging a democratic election.
At the heart of Horn’s peace is Ethiopia. The country has been both serving as a peacemaker and peacebuilder in the region for quite a while now. From mediating Sudan’s conflicting factions to the leading peacekeeping mission in Somalia, Ethiopia has been a linchpin in the security and stability of the entire region.
Lately, the country reaffirmed its commitments to further cement its cooperation with the neighboring country in its fight against religious extremists and terrorist groups that pose a direct danger to all.
Commenting on Ethio-Somalia relations, Ambassador Dina Mufti, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), said that Ethiopia has paid a huge sacrifice for the peace of Somalia and reaffirms its commitment to continue standing with Somalia for lasting peace. Ethiopia will strengthen its cooperation and support to Somalia mainly with regard to annihilating Al-Shabaab. This cooperation relies on fighting terrorism which is the mutual security threat between the two nations.
For more than a decade now, Addis Ababa and Mogadishu have been fighting Al-Shabaab and its minions who have been putting the security of both countries and beyond.
The government is also strengthening its cooperation with neighboring countries to fight terrorism and solve border disputes.
Recently, the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) Chief of Staff Field Marshal Birhanu Jula and Uganda Minister of Defense Vincent Bamulangaki held talks about current affairs in the two countries.
At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the status of signed agreements between Ethiopia and Uganda in security areas. The discussion noted the need to renew the agreements between the two countries and MoFA was assigned to make follow-ups.
According to MoFA, the two sides also discussed the recent story circulating over social media about the TPLF connections with Uganda. Uganda Defense Minister Vincent Bamulangaki downplayed the allegations that the terrorist group was receiving training in Uganda with the support of the United States, Egypt, and South Sudan. He further reaffirmed Uganda’s perception of Ethiopia as the mother of Africa and that any anti-Ethiopian force will never be allowed to operate in Uganda.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia and Kenya have reiterated strong security cooperation to fight cross-border terrorism thereby ensuring peace and stability in the area.
The two countries have agreed to ensure peace and security along their common borders as they are crucial for the economic integration of the two countries.
Ethiopian Federal Police Commissioner General Demelash Gebremichael and his Kenyan counterpart Hillary Nzioki Mutyambai held talks On 15 February 2022 about ways of working together to combat terrorism along with the border areas, the Ethiopian News Agency reported.
The Kenyan Inspector General Mutyambai said the officials have agreed to cooperate in ensuring peace and security along with the border areas through information sharing, training, and capacity building between the two police institutions. A memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed for the effectiveness of the agreement.
Commissioner General Demelash said on his part the countries have agreed to take joint operations against the terrorist groups of OLF Shene and Al-Shabbab which cause damage along the Ethio-Kenya border. An agreement would therefore enable to take joint operations against the terrorist groups with the view to ensuring peace in the area. The two police institutions in the two countries will work in cooperation to make sure that the trade and development cooperation are conducted peacefully and legally.
Meanwhile, it is remembered that Ethiopia and Djibouti have been working on fighting crimes and solving conflicts based on the legal agreement signed between the police forces of the two countries. Djiboutian Army General Zakaria Cheikh Ibrahim recently said that the previous agreements signed between the two countries’ federal police institutions were playing vital roles to prevent various cross-border crimes, he said while inking a new agreement on peace and security at the defense level with his Ethiopian counterpart ENDF Chiefs of Staff Field Marsha Birhanu Jula.
The defense agreement that was signed on 7 March 2022 between the Joint Defense Committee of the two countries aimed at forging cooperation in strategic and technical spheres. It will also play an important role to ensure peace and security in the region, it was mentioned.
According to Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, the agreement reached between the two countries’ Joint Defense Committee on strategic and technical cooperation has significance for regional peace and security.
The ministry of foreign affairs is also working with security bodies, and regional administrations to solve border conflicts between nomads on the borders with South Sudan and Kenya. Meanwhile, the country is also working to solve the conflict with Sudan through diplomatic mechanisms.
Presenting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ nine-month report to lawmakers lately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen said: “We are also in good diplomatic status with Eritrea in entertaining our mutual benefits. We are attentively working to improve this relation into strong economic cooperation through preparing cooperation frameworks to expand infrastructures that help to enhance trade, and people’s movement, port usage and trade exchange, custom and immigration, and so on,”
The major diplomatic targets of Ethiopia are strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries. In this regard, the country has been working with neighboring countries in facilitating infrastructure, conflict prevention, and economic cooperation aimed at achieving lasting peace in the horn, and improving mutual connection in economic and social affairs, according to Demeke.
With the stakes appearing high and the pitfalls becoming too many in the region, the Horn African countries have no choice but to swim together or perish together. In this regard, the countries should come up with joint mechanisms to curb the challenges and capitalize on the progress.
BY YOHANES JEMANEH
The Ethiopian Herald 24 May 2022
