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Ethiopia: Islamic leader urges 'Greater Somalia'
advertisement11/19/06
Ethiopia: Islamic leader urges 'Greater Somalia'
Islamic leader urges 'Greater Somalia'
MOHAMED OLAD HASSSAN
Associated Press
MOGADISHU, Somalia - The leader of the Islamic group that controls much of southern Somalia has revived the idea of a "Greater Somalia" that would incorporate regions of Kenya and Ethiopia - a move that could further stoke tensions with the neighboring countries.
Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, chairman of the Council of Islamic Courts, told Shabelle Radio in an interview late Friday that his group would work to unite ethnic Somali peoples, but he did not say how it proposed to achieve a "Greater Somalia."
This is the first time that Aweys has spoken about expanding the influence of the Islamic courts outside Somalia since his group seized control of the capital, Mogadishu, in June and then consolidated its control over most of southern Somalia.
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"We will leave no stone unturned to integrate our Somali brothers in Kenya and Ethiopia and restore their freedom to live with their ancestors in Somalia," he said.
After present-day Somalia was formed in 1960 from Italian and British colonies, the country's leaders began pushing for the unity of all Somali-speaking peoples. Somalis live in Djibouti, northeastern Kenya and eastern Ethiopia.
Somalia launched an invasion of Ethiopia in 1977, which was quickly repelled. Since then, Somali nationalists and Islamic fundamentalists have continued to advocate the idea of a "Greater Somalia," and a minor ethnic-Somali insurgency continues in eastern Ethiopia.
Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on one another. A government was formed with the help of the United Nations two years ago, but it controls just one town.
Experts have warned that the country has become a proxy battleground for Somalia's neighbors, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
A confidential U.N. report obtained last month by The Associated Press said 6,000-8,000 Ethiopian troops are in or near Somalia's border with Ethiopia, backing the interim government. The report also said 2,000 troops from Eritrea are inside Somalia supporting the Islamic courts.
On Nov. 2, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, issued a warning saying Somali extremists were threatening suicide attacks in Kenya and Ethiopia. Somalia's Islamic militia denied they planned any such attacks.
A U.N. panel charged with monitoring the 1992 arms embargo on Somalia said in a report obtained Wednesday by the AP that 10 countries, including Ethiopia and Eritrea, had provided weapons, money and training to armed groups in Somalia.
The four-member panel based their report on their own investigations, interviews and material supplied by embassies in Nairobi. Several of the countries have denied the allegations.
The U.S. ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger, said Saturday there was ample information that foreign countries were providing weapons to Somalia. He would not comment specifically on the U.N. report, although he said it was "generally known Eritrea is involved."
"We do have reliable information that arms are flowing into Somalia from a number of different sources," Ranneberger told The Associated Press in Kapenguria, Kenya.
Eritrea's information minister, Ali Abdu, said Saturday the allegations were "absurd."
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Associated Press Writer Elizabeth A. Kennedy contributed to this report from Kapenguria, Kenya.
53 comments
all want a peace of Ethiopia.
but they are not going to get it.
You dont know who you are messing with. If there is any thing easy for Ethiopians to do, crushing the spine of enemies is the first. Internal crisis does not make our border an open field for wild animals such as the red beard monkeys. We oppose the existence of our soldiers somewhere in your land, however such a stupid and reckless desire for unrealistic "greater somalia" tends to justify woyanes meddling in your countries internal crisis. I asure you that, you will never get an inch our of our land and any attempt to step you feet on Ogaden will be a suicide both for you and your fanatic ideology. The choice is in your hand, behave or die!
And Seble, as usual, you are not making any sense at all. I suppose Hume's philosophy is swirling your head.
Somalia back to 0 again!
Never learn from past mistake!
I am sorry to the people of somalia!
This is nothing new, of course. I don't think he himself believes it. But apparently he thinks it serves the purpose of uniting his fellow citizens in Somalia who have been looking inwardly. (That is clans fighting each other for 15 years). He wants them to look outwardly and wants them to think that he has found the enemy and the enemy is not them but the bad people of Ethiopia and Kenya and the US. He thinks this intangible idea will help Somalis rally behind him in the shortest time possible.
But on a serious note: If Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys really, really cares for his fellow ethnic Somalis living in Ethiopia and Kenya; he should do what the Germans have done recently. That is to invite them to Somalia, grant them free access, a full Somali citizenship etc. and see how many of them would like to come?
The Germans had, for many years, territorial claims againest their neighbors based on the ethnic Germans living in these countries. However, they abandoned that unattainable claim and instead invited their fellow ethnic Germans living in Russia, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary and other countries bordering Germany to come to Germany and offered them all amenities and entitlements that a German citizen has. And they pored into Germany by the millions. That what you call caring. But, there are two things why Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys will not do what the Germans have done: 1. He does not have a country (oops) and 2. He does not care for the "Somalis living in Ethiopia and Kenya". He just wants the lands they are living in. That is all.
thanks,
ababu
Ok!Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys. You do not have to turn a single stone.It is not as hard as you think. Just invite your "fellow brothers" living in neighboring countries to come to Somalia. Now, what better way is there to show your love for your brothers than that.
But, Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, I really beleive you are being a little deceitfull here! Are n't you? What you really meant to say was that you want the land mass of your neigboring countries not the masses of "your brothers" living in them.
thanks,
ababu
This Islamist fundamentalist has been portrayed as powerful by many since the black hawk down incident. I really think these guys can not even restore or obey basic rules of law, let alone fight one of the regional power. Maybe, it is written in their Sharia law, these hate mongers radicals all they know is distraction and anarchy. I say the famous Chinese proverb, “Be careful what you wish for"....
Are Somalis not tired of war and gave you a chance to bring stability?
The Ogaden National Liberation Front is fighting for the Somalis right and equality with other Ethiopian oppositions and will not buy your failed Greater Somalia dream.
The Islamists should not be used by Arabs who are silent on Darfur genocide, and never treat Somalis as their equals to foment war between African's neighbors.
ONLF and OLF who are members of AFD should come and condemn such misguided adventure before further destabilizing our region.
Our region should not follow colonialists blue print rather future integration to extract us from poverty, and Greater Somalia is not one of them.
What are a couple of Big headed somali's With old weapons gonna do.When the royal ethiopian air force attacks.And when ethiopian infantry invades it's over.The only Reason ONLF Aint bombded Out of Ogaden.Is the Oil.Al You Somali's from Ogaden Say youre Somali's.Wel go 2 somalia Then.It's Only couple of miles away...
I had sympathy for his struggle to change a lawless Somalia into civilised modern society but the ill-conceived ambition he pursue to establish “Greater Somalia” made me feel that Mr. Aweys is actually number one enemy of Ethiopia.
If he is advised and calculated on our internal problem, then it is a grave mistake that will lead his dream short lived and end up with out fulfilling even the need for central government in Somalia.
Nevertheless, when it comes to our sovereignty, the internal problem we had will not affect us from guarding and defending the sovereign territory of Ethiopia. Therefore,
Mr. Aweys, be wise, watch your statements and refrain from antagonising yourself with the entire horn of Africa by reviving the out dated ambition that has a dire consequences for future Somalia to coexist as a country side by side with its neighbours.
Well said bro.
Regardless of our internal differences, We all are Ethiopians. And, we are united against any forighen invasion.
I cherish,adore and respect my Ethiopian fellows but facts are always facts! i will be more than happy to be convinced, plzz do send me any facts you have in my email. risaala@hotmail.com.
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