
My Opinion | Nov 23,2024
Feb 13 , 2021
By Christian Tesfaye
The political history of the Horn of Africa is depressing to say the least. Only in such a region – except for the Middle East – could Ethiopia seem rule-based, stable and even prosperous.
Each country has a depressing era of history and contemporary politics. Take Eritrea, a country with a tiny population. Highly militarised, economically poor and politically secretive, it fought its war with Ethiopia about half a decade after it gained its independence. It never regained its footing afterwards. There were border issues with Djibouti after the war ended with Ethiopia, and by the late 2000s the country had been saddled with sanctions that left its economy in tatters. The country eventually clawed its way out of its pariah status after a rapprochement with its southern neighbour only to face criticism for inviting itself into a conflict in Ethiopia’s northern region.
At least Eritrea has stability and a strong central government going for it. The same cannot be said for Somalia, a country that has been ungovernable since the early 1990s. It was once cohesive enough to mobilise resources and invade the eastern part of Ethiopia. Today, Somaliland has declared itself an independent state, with few countries recognising its status, while al-Shabab, a fundamentalist group, poses a threat to Somalia's UN-recognised government.
Djibouti is more stable and open. Like Ethiopia, compared to its neighbours, it appears tolerable. Sure it is saddled with debt, suffers from ethnic rivalries and has had just two presidents since its independence from France in 1977. Today, it leases its ports as a military hub for some of the world’s major powers, including the United States and China.
It is then no wonder that such a collection of countries have over the years clashed with one another, turning the region into one of the most conflict-prone. The worst offenders here are perhaps Ethiopia and Eritrea, who fought a two-year war at the turn of the millennium that would go on to take the lives of tens of thousands of people. In their drive for regional hegemony, they have raced to the bottom, trying to gain allies to their side and punish detractors.
There was a rapprochement in 2018, winning Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) a Nobel Peace Prize. But the details of these peace terms remain shrouded in mystery and has yet to be institutionalised. With observers, some Ethiopian officials and US diplomats saying that Eritrea has taken part in the armed conflict in the northern region of the country – though denied insistently by both Asmera and Addis Abeba – it is not clear what the road ahead will be.
Ethiopia has also fought wars with Sudan and is currently in a border dispute with the country over an area known as al-Fashaga. Eritrea, in fact, broke relations with Sudan just a year after independence. For years afterward, they had accused one another of supporting anti-government forces, though there has been a thawing of relations over the past decade.
Neither are Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia best of friends. The first two had a border conflict that saw dozens die. It was also for alleged support of extremist groups in Somalia that the UN sanctioned Eritrea, though conclusive evidence of direct support was never found and the sanction was subsequently lifted.
I can go on and on, but the picture is clear. It is one of instability, poverty, hunger and deprivation. For the foreseeable future as well, it seems that it will continue to be the case. Governments insecure with their power would continue to seek outside distraction, not to mention fail to develop the mechanisms to address regional issues with tact and dexterity.
PUBLISHED ON
Feb 13,2021 [ VOL
21 , NO
1085]
My Opinion | Nov 23,2024
Editorial | Feb 13,2021
Editorial | Sep 27,2020
Viewpoints | Oct 03,2020
Sunday with Eden | Sep 11,2020
Commentaries | Feb 01,2019
Life Matters | Aug 08,2020
Commentaries | Oct 16,2020
Sunday with Eden | Oct 10,2020
My Opinion | Dec 29,2018
My Opinion | 130150 Views | Aug 14,2021
My Opinion | 126448 Views | Aug 21,2021
My Opinion | 124452 Views | Sep 10,2021
My Opinion | 122206 Views | Aug 07,2021
Dec 22 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Charged with transforming colossal state-owned enterprises into modern and competitiv...
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 28 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Unhabitual, perhaps too many, Samuel Gebreyohannes, 38, used to occasionally enjoy a couple of beers at breakfast. However, he recently swit...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transporting commodities, and f...
May 31 , 2025
It is seldom flattering to be bracketed with North Korea and Myanmar. Ironically, Eth...
May 24 , 2025
Public hospitals have fallen eerily quiet lately. Corridors once crowded with patient...
May 17 , 2025
Ethiopia pours more than three billion Birr a year into academic research, yet too mu...
May 10 , 2025
Federal legislators recently summoned Shiferaw Teklemariam (PhD), head of the Disaste...
May 31 , 2025 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER
Real-estate developers have formed a new lobbying group, the Ethiopian Real Estate De...
May 31 , 2025 . By NAHOM AYELE
A draft proclamation, endorsed by the Council of Ministers two weeks ago, will permit...
May 31 , 2025 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER
Regulators at the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) have issued a notice to commercial...
May 31 , 2025 . By NAHOM AYELE
The Ministry of Water & Energy has announced plans to enlist institutions located...