Unilateral Approach in the Horn: A Dead-End In Its Entirety

By Bereket Sisay

Ethiopia has been an ardent supporter of the African cause and champion of Pan-Africanism since colonial times. That's why Ethiopia reached out to freedom fighters like the late South African President Nelson Mandela (Madiba) and the late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in their fight against apartheid and Rhodesia respectively. Ethiopia has also been a rallying point for many African nations to gain freedom from their colonial masters and then join them under the great banner of brotherhood. Ethiopia is also a country known for contributing to the global common good, especially in the area of collective security. 

Ethiopia's participation in the UN authorized peace mission could also be counted as part of its unwavering stance on global common affairs and its conviction to the principle of non-indifference to the plight of its African sisters and brothers. All these are the nascent founding principle of the incumbent foreign policy and services in its entirety. In keeping with such a grand approach, Ethiopia has given prime attention to its relations with its neighbors and the region where it is located.  Accordingly, Ethiopia has always been at the forefront of the regional agenda of integration and stability.

It’s quite for sometimes, since Ethiopia embarked upon practicing the full-fledged integration agenda. Ethiopia has been exporting power to its neighbors, mainly Sudan, Djibouti and Kenya, to forge interconnectivity and help address critical development challenges. Ethiopia will soon begin exporting power to Tanzania, while even after the completion of the GERD, Ethiopia has sought to export large volumes of electricity to neighboring countries for mutual growth. Ethiopia has also constructed railways linking Addis Ababa to Djibouti to facilitate trade and people-to-people contacts. The road links between Ethiopia and Kenya and the recent agreement between Ethiopia and Sudan to build a highway are also a step towards regional integration. Another project that will enable the movement of people and goods and boost regional trade and economic development is the LAPSSET corridor highways linking Lamu Port to Ethiopia and South Sudan.

In addition, Ethiopia was among the first countries to sign and ratify the AfCFTA and has since worked tirelessly for its full implementation. The IGAD flagship project of regional integration and peace in the region has always been Ethiopia's top agenda. In line with its zeal to prosper with its neighbors, Ethiopia has reached an agreement with Somaliland to diversify its port access, which will benefit both as a critical look at its economies of scale makes clear.

Somalia’s Blunder, a messy move

Ethiopia and Somalia have a glamorous, strong people-to-people bond. Looking at their political history, perhaps the saying "one people in two countries" could best characterize the historical relationship of the two countries, if not exaggerated.  They share a similar culture, language and over a thousand kilometers of border that binds the two peoples together. Ethiopia has successfully defended the interests of the Somali people against terrorist insurgents , who could otherwise severely affect Somalia. That's why Ethiopia has so far made such a scarification and its tangible contribution has been bolder than the untrue accusations and defamations that dominate the air these days. It is for this serious reason that the people of Somalia have great respect for Ethiopia.

The real picture of Ethiopia lies behind the question: would Somalia have such a security situation if Ethiopia had not been there during its difficult times? And the answer is simply no! It wouldn't have. To rub salt in the wounds, Somalia's decision to accept a third party that goes against the interest of Ethiopia's national interest is simply Somalia's big strategic fall that goes against the stability of the Horn as a whole. As the move has huge implications, Ethiopia has been dismayed and expressed its concern that it can't be an idle while the region is sleepwalking towards unintended security perils that endanger its or the entire region.

What else for the region if not stand in unison? 

Ethiopia and Somalia, as good and friendly neighbors couldn't survive separately because their destinies are tied together by various factors. That is why Ethiopian soldiers have been sacrificing their lives for the preservation of Somalia. Moreover, Ethiopia has a greater stake in the region because of its huge population and economy, and because it is a pioneer in consolidating stability while trying to integrate the region through development. Therefore, any move that deprives Ethiopia of its rightful geopolitical position is normatively wrong and won't be a solution for the current Horn of Africa.

Therefore, addressing its security concerns and allowing it to address its economic challenges is of great value for the prosperity of the region. Ethiopia's attempt to ride together could not be different from the European style of development after the Second World War. The regional bloc, the EU, took its first steps to promote economic cooperation and integration, and now these efforts have paid off - they have reached this level of economic prosperity. Accordingly, the approach of Ethiopia as well as any other country towards integration aspirations is no different. More importantly, Ethiopia has repeatedly expressed its readiness to resolve the current diplomatic row with Somalia through peaceful means and Somalia should salvage such dividend and find an amicable mutually beneficial solutions.

On the other hand, many have been expressing concern regarding the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), following the drawdown of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). In the recent past, Ethiopia has successfully thwarted al-Shabaab, an Islamist insurgent group with direct links to al-Qaeda, which poses a serious threat to peace in Somalia and has occasionally made incursions into the hinterland of neighboring states, including Ethiopia. However, Ethiopia has been successful in thwarting the terrorist threat from al-Shabaab and has gained international recognition for this.

This force should be dismantled through concerted efforts, especially through experienced tactics. Understanding the geographical and other factors that provide fertile ground for al-Shabaab to flourish is a critical component of such a mission. In this case, Ethiopia has a huge capital and it's incumbent on Somalia and other concerned parties to use it and move in the right direction to pacify the region. Moreover, for the Horn of Africa, unity may be the only option left in the pursuit of common progress. In the age of interdependence, a unilateral approach is a more futile path and it's actually a dead end. Thus, as the saying goes, unity is strength, and empowered by such a model, the countries of the region should choose to use their abundant natural and material wealth as a catalyst for prosperity.