To The Rescue, Again
Ethiopia is a largely Christian country. Its intervention in conflict in Somalia is considered by Muslim Somalians with a religion-jaundiced eye. But it has followed Kenya, in its attempts to halt the cross-border raids of Somalia's al-Shabab Islamist fanatics, taking hostages and wreaking havoc in the burgeoning refugee camps of Somalian refugees, fleeing their country's instability due to drought, famine, war.Kenyan forces deployed to southern Somalia have been battling the Islamist al-Shabab forces, along with African Union peacekeepers in Mogadishu. Somalis were hostile to the presence of Ethiopian troops when they attempted to remove a powerful Islamist movement years ago, one which led to an Ethiopian military occupation that lasted for years, and which spurred high resentment.
And which, it seemed, led to the rise of al-Shabab. Somalis are this time welcoming the Ethiopians. They will place a welcome mat out for any intervenors who can assist in dismantling al-Shabab. Their government could use all the help it can get, from any source. And what better sources than their near neighbours? Different clans and tribes, and religious adherence as well, but in an emergency, one acknowledges assistance with gratitude.
"What we need right now is only peace, and we don't care about the identity of the peacemakers."
If the foreign intervening militaries are successful in rescuing Muslim Somalia from its rabidly violent internal Islamist threats from al-Shabab, perhaps it might not be too far-fetched to hope that Somalis might in their turn regard those worshiping other religions as being due respect. The conflict between religions is yet another factor in the aggravation of co-operation between African countries.
Labels: Africa, Conflict, Political Realities, Religion
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, November 22, 2011
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