Ethiopian involvement in the Somali Civil War

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Ethiopian involvement in Somali Civil War

The situation in the beginning of December 2006

Date	December 8, 2006– ongoing
Location	Somalia
Result	Conflict ongoing

Combatants

Islamic Courts Union

Pro-Islamist militias

Alleged:
Eritrea
Foreign jihadists

Ethiopia

Puntland

Galmudug

Transitional Government of Somalia

Commanders

Hassan Aweys, Hasan Hersi

Meles Zenawi

Barre Adan Shire "Hirale"
Abdi Qeybdid

Adde Musa (Puntland)

Strength

10,000 – 30,000 soldiers

500 – 2000 technicals
Heavy weapons including artillery, GTA and GTG missiles

Alleged forces:
2,000 Eritrean soldiers^[1]
3,000 - 4,000 foreign jihadists^[2]^[3]

2,000 – 5,000 clan militia

300 – 500 technicals
500 – 30,000 Ethiopian infantry (Ethiopia claims the low figure, ICU the high figure^[3]. A UN report^[1] placed their numbers at ~7,000)
Ethiopian heavy weapons, including artillery, GTG, GTA missiles
Unknown number of Ethiopian tank forces.

Casualties

20 killed

36 killed

Recent conflicts in the Horn of Africa
Eritrean War of Independence – Ogaden War – Somali Civil War – Ethiopian-Eritrean War – Ethiopian war in Somalia

Somali Civil War
Phases Civil War (1988–92) – UN intervention (1992–93) – Civil War (1993–2006) – Civil War (2006-present) – Ethiopian intervention (2006–present) Engagements Provide Relief – Deliverance – 1st Mogadishu – 2nd Mogadishu

Ethiopian intervention in the Somali Civil War allegedly started on December 8, 2006. The Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which controls the coastal areas of southern Somalia, claims to have been involved in heavy fighting with Somali transitional government forces, backed by Ethiopian troops. The fighting occurred in Dinsoor, a town 110 kilometers (70 miles) south-west of the government base of Baidoa.

According to the BBC, "If the Ethiopian involvement is confirmed, it would be the first time that Islamist and Ethiopian troops have come into direct contact."^[4] The two sides have traded war declarations on several occasions before. Eastern African countries and international observers fear the Ethiopian offensive may lead to a regional war, involving Eritrea, the long-term enemy of Ethiopia and current supporter of the ICU.^[5]

1 Background
2 Timeline of events
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Background

Main articles: Somali Civil War (2006) and Ethiopian involvement in Somalia

Ethiopian involvement in Somalia in recent times began with the collapse of the central government in Somalia in 1991. The extent and aims of the involvement have changed over time. From 1996 onwards Ethiopian troops were alleged to have made numerous armed incursions into Somalia.^[6]

Reports in January 2002 indicated that around 300 Ethiopian soldiers were deployed in Garowe, capital of Puntland, with other Ethiopian troops reportedly moving into the neighbouring Bay region and around Baidoa. The Ethiopian government denied these reports.^[7] In February 2003 Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, admitted that Ethiopian troops were occasionally sent into Somalia to battle the militant Islamist group, Al-Ittihad and stated that the group was linked to Al-Qaeda.^[8]

Ethiopia has been a long-term ally of the current President of the Somali interim government, Abdullahi Yusuf, who was inaugurated in October 2004. In the 1990s during the civil war Ethiopia helped this former warlord defeat an Islamist militia led by Hassan Aweys. After Yusuf became president Ethiopia started to support the Somali interim government, especially against various Islamist militias in Somalia and most recently in the ongoing conflict with the Islamic Courts Union.

Early December 2006, tensions have risen considerably. Both sides are building up a large concentration of troops near the last Somali interim government stronghold of Baidoa. The Islamic Courts Union is reportedly supported by foreign fighters called to "holy war", and possibly Ethiopia's arch-enemy Eritrea. The Somali interim government, which is also backed by the West, has support from an estimated 10,000 Ethiopian troops.^[9]

Adding complexity to the situation, Ethiopia is being accused by the ICU of acting as a proxy of the United States, while the US State Department argues that the ICU is acting as a wing of al Qaeda in the Global War on Terror (GWOT).^[10]^[11]

[edit] Timeline of events

Regional concern heightened November 2, when the US Embassy in Nairobi issued a terrorist warning of suicide attack threats in Kenya and Ethiopia, stemming from Somalia. ^[12]

On November 17, 2006, Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys spoke to Shabelle Radio about the formation of a Greater Somalia. He stated, "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."

An Ethiopian column of 80 vehicles was hit by landmines then attacked with gunfire by a group of about 50 troops loyal to the ICU on November 19, 2006 near Berdaale, 30 miles (50 km) west of Baidoa. Six Ethiopians were reported killed in the attack. Two Ethiopian trucks burned and two were overturned.^[13]^[14]^[15]

An exchange of mortar shells between Union of Islamic Courts and Ethiopian forces occurred in Galkayo on November 28, 2006 with both Islamists and Ethiopian forces facing off. Ethiopian and Islamist forces in Galkayo, central Somalia, were less than 5 kilometers away from one another.^[16]

Terrorist attack warnings for Ethiopia and Kenya were reiterated on November 28, citing a letter purportedly written by Sheik Hassan to attack US citizens in those countries. "These threats specifically mention the execution of suicide explosions in prominent landmarks within Kenya and Ethiopia... American citizens are advised to remain vigilant and to use extreme cautions when frequenting prominent places."^[17]

On November 30 an Ethiopian military convoy in Somalia was ambushed by fighters loyal to the Union of Islamic Courts. Eyewitnesses said a truck was blown up and there was an exchange of fire. The ICU claim 20 soldiers died^[18]. Ethiopia's parliament voted the same day to authorize the government take "all necessary" steps to rebuff any potential invasion by Somalia's Islamists.^[19]

On December 4, US General John Abizaid finished his trip to meet with Ethiopian military leaders in Addis Ababa. In Somalia, a militant crowd filled a soccer stadium chanting anti-American slogans. Many Somalis view Ethiopia as a proxy for the United States, while the US views Ethiopia, along with Kenya, as genuinely concerned neighboring states necessary for keeping security in the region.^[20]

The UN Security Council voted unanimously on December 6 to back a regional peacekeeping force for Somalia.

On December 8, 2006, fighters from Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts clashed with Somalian pro-government forces, allegedly in cooperation with Ethiopian troops. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, head of the Islamic Courts, told a crowd in Mogadishu that fighting had started in Dinsor in the south, and called on all Somalis to "stand up and defeat the enemies"^[21]. Another official said Ethiopian troops had shelled the town of Bandiradley. The Deputy Defence Minister of the Somali government, Salat Ali Jelle, confirmed the fighting but denied any Ethiopian troops were involved. The Ethiopian government has denied repeated claims that its troops are fighting alongside Somali government militia.

Witnesses in Dagaari village near Bandiradley said that they saw hundreds of Ethiopian troops and tanks take up positions near the town with militiamen from the northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland ^[22].

On December 9, fighters from Somalia's Islamic Courts and pro-government soldiers clashed in a second day of fighting. The fighting occurred 40 kilometers from the interim government's headquarters in Baidoa. Mohamed Ibrahim Bilal, an Islamic Courts official, said that the government had launched a counterattack at Rama'addey village, while Ali Mohamed Gedi, the prime minister, claimed that Islamic Courts fighters had attacked government positions.^[23]

On December 11 the Islamic Courts began collecting taxes in the Somali capital of Mogadishu to help fund the "holy war" against the Ethiopian troops in Somalia.^[24] Meanwhile the Somali government warned of grave danger to the entire region if the conflict continues to escalate. It also accused Eritrea, long-time enemy of Ethiopia, of supporting the Islamists. ^[25] Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi reported the number of foreign fighters was 3,000 but growing.^[2]

On December 13, a Reuters report cited the ICU claimed 30,000 Ethiopian troops were involved in Somalia, while 4,000 foreign fighters were involved on the side of the ICU.^[3]. Ethiopia denied having troops other than "military advisors" present.