Ethiopia has had enough of the Islamists in Somalia.
Ethiopia officially plunged into war with Somalia’s Islamist forces on Sunday, bombing targets inside Somalia and pushing ground troops deep into Somali territory in a major escalation that could turn Somalia’s internal crisis into a violent religious conflict that engulfs the entire Horn of Africa.
The coordinated assault was the first open admission by Ethiopia’s Christian-led government of its military operations inside Somalia, where — with tacit American support — it has been helping a weak interim government threatened by forces loyal to the Islamic clerics who control the longtime capital, Mogadishu, and much of the country.
Ethiopia’s prime minister, Meles Zenawi, said in a televised broadcast that he had ordered the action because he had no choice.
“Ethiopian defense forces were forced to enter into war to protect the sovereignty of the nation,� he said. “We are not trying to set up a government for Somalia, nor do we have an intention to meddle in Somalia’s internal affairs. We have only been forced by the circumstances.�
According to witnesses, Ethiopian fighter jets bombarded several towns, obliterating an Islamist recruitment center and other targets, while Ethiopian tanks rolled into battle. The attacks set off riots in Mogadishu, Somalia’s battle-scarred seaside capital, and fighting on several fronts in southern Somalia.
So, what (directly) caused Ethiopia to attack the Islamists in neighboring Somalia?
On Saturday, after several days of heavy internal fighting, Islamist leaders announced that Somalia was now open to Muslim fighters around the world who wanted to wage a holy war against Ethiopia, a country with a long Christian history, even though it is about half Muslim.
“What did you expect us to do?� said Zemedkun Tekle, a spokesman for Ethiopia’s information ministry. “Wait for them to attack our cities?�
No, nobody could possibly expect that of Ethiopia. Radical Muslims have taken over Somalia and then invited extremists from around the world to come to Somalia to help the Islamists fight against Ethiopia. No country in the world would have accepted that.
Ethiopia should be much stronger than the Islamists. The West should try to play a role in this as well: when the dust settles, come in with money, teachers, etc. and help develop Somalia (an incredibly poor country, ruled by chaos for years already).
If we want to permanently beat extremists, we need to develop poor countries c.q. invest in the people there.
