proxy War at the Horn of Africa

China clashes with the West at the Horn of Africa. Sudan, Somalia, the oil and the militarization of yet another trade route. More war ships than during both world wars are currently gathering in that region, officially to fight against 'pirates'. In order to understand why the Horn of Africa became balkanised one has to look at the various interests. Like in Yugoslavia it was not only nationalism and chauvinism that ignited the time-bomb but economic issues.
Ethiopia and Somalia have had a long history of animosity and wars and it is easy to revive those traditional hostilities. The Zenawi-regime in Ethiopia, a good ally of the US since the days of Bill Clinton, had always the White Houses support. The US even trains the Ethiopian forces . It is likely that the US paid the Ethiopian forces for invading Somalia. With its 3,300km long coast, and last but not least its oil and gas reserves, Somalia provides for a strategic position for whoever wants to control the Indian ocean as well as Western Africa.
How much a government and parliament set up by the Bush - White House is able to reconcile a people torn apart by a barbaric civil war can be studied in the case of Iraq. One day, it might appear to Sheik Aden that he has made a huge mistake to accept the money from EU Commissioner Louis Michel who promised a total of 365 m € to be invested into the future of Somalia. Asked by me whether the whole story about al Qaeda in Somalia was not just a justification for another US war, EU Commissioner Michel replied that one shouldnt jump any conclusions and that, of course, the EU Commission only was trying to help the Somali people. Yes, thats what it must be, I forgot.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Horn of Africa
• war against pirate terror
• chinese oil interests in sudan
• american interests in somalia

[RalphTNiemeyer]

yes, I heard that. One would need more of these wise men.

[bass109]

LORD JESUS IS PEACE

[xaadable]

China is not interested in Somalia for now, china focuses on the Sudan.

[HerroHerrar]

im very impressed with deputy prime minister Ibbi's language skills, hes also very well educated nationalist, he is very well respected here in Djibouti city our people tak highly of him