In this blog, the author discusses the merits of the new European Union Development Commissioner’s approach to the Eritrean government. Although this “friendly” approach may seem strange because the Eritrean government has financed and armed militant and terrorist groups who fought against the Sudanese, Ethiopian, and Somali governments, this actually would help peace more because no matter what other governments (including the US) tell the Eritrean government, it will only create more bitterness and not help to solve anything. Hopefully, the “condemnation and alienation” of the Eritrean government will continue to lessen, helping out with peace and stability, rather than the blame game.
Personally, I think that this is a wise approach, at least based on the information the author gives. However, I also think that it is inappropriate to ignore the funding of terrorism and militants and play it off so easily. It’s definately a question that I wouldn’t want to have to solve single-handedly!
I completly agree and I believe that governments of the West are finally realising that different strategies are necessary under different conditions. It a since if peace and economic stability are ever to reach the horn of Africa, than those nations financing peace need to recognise Eritrea’s govermment as a legitimate body and begin working with it towards peace, rather than ignoring the wishes of the government and going straight to the villages, where peace keepers and soldiers are not well recieved. While terrorism is a major concern in the Horn of Africa, its important to know that if the US and EU encourge transparent activity in Somalia and Eritrea through non-aggressive agreements and accords, then it’s quite possible that the goverment may begin to outwardly discourage terrorism and terror activity. We can no longer completly refuse to work or negotiate with governments that do not meet the US standards of anti-terrorist legislation. If the goal is to eliminate terror training camps in Eritrea and Somalia, then the West will need to recognise the governments of both nations and work with them, in order to weed out terrorist cells.
Comment by tahoeinafrica — May 6, 2007 @ 11:14 pm
[...] 5 EU in the horn of Africa, a response; http://ccloud.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/european-union-in-the-horn-of-africa/ [...]
Pingback by top 5 posts « From Stockton, to Djibouti, and everything in bewteen — May 7, 2007 @ 8:29 pm