Al-Ahram Weekly | Region | Focus on the African Horn

		21 - 27 November 2002 Issue No. 613 Region	Current issue Previous issue Site map
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875

Focus on the African Horn
The Horn of Africa is now on the Arab League's list of priorities. Dina Ezzat reports

For the first time in many years, the Arab League is giving considerable attention to the Horn of Africa. The objective of this interest, according to Arab League officials, is to promote stability in and cooperation with the area, which it considers key to Arab economic and strategic interests.
"We want to play a positive role in the area -- to help settle problems there and encourage neighbourly relations," said Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa following talks with Eritrean President Issias Afeworki last week at Arab League headquarters. Moussa made the remarks in response to a statement by Afeworki in which the Eritrean president requested that the "the Arab League assume a political role to help settle differences in the Horn of Africa".
The Moussa-Afeworki talks also dealt with the Eritrea- Yemen dispute, peacemaking efforts in the Horn of Africa, the mutual benefits of improved Arab-Eritrean ties and Eritrea's long-standing request for observer status in the Arab League. The talks were the latest in a series of Horn-focused diplomatic efforts by the Arab League during the past few months.
Other moves included a tour of several states in the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia, which is a key state that has historically been reserved in its interactions with Arab countries. "This was a particularly important move in the effort by the Arab League to improve its relations with countries in the Horn of Africa," explained Samir Hosni, head of the African Affairs Department at the Arab League.
Moussa's visit to Addis Ababa seems to have helped clear many misunderstandings between Ethiopia and its Arab neighbours. "The joint communiqué issued by the Arab League and the Ethiopian government at the time was very useful in dotting the I's and crossing the T's in this respect. I think it is safe to say that the communiqué was a turning point in Ethiopian-Arab relations in the sense that it indicated in black and white the willingness of both sides to work for better relations," said Hosni.
The Arab League's outreach to the Horn of Africa also includes increased involvement in peacemaking efforts for Somalia and Sudan. During the past few months, the Arab League secretary-general held a series of talks with Sudanese and Somali officials and opposition figures to promote peace in both countries. He also appointed a personal envoy to each of Sudan and Somalia to encourage peace efforts in the two countries, which have suffered tremendously owing to years of civil strife. "These are two important countries in the Horn of Africa. They are also members of the Arab League, but it is only recently that they have been receiving due attention from the league and, for that matter, from Arab countries in general," said Hosni.
This new Arab League interest was prompted by an increasing awareness of the potential for the instability wracking the Horn to spill over into Arab countries, especially in view of the aggressive Israeli campaign to establish a strong military and economic presence in the area. The attention was also prompted by an increasing awareness of the potential for economic cooperation with countries of the region.
Today, the immediate prospects for the Horn of Africa are obviously bleak. Sudan is suffering a civil war and is at loggerheads with Eritrea over the new country's provision of refuge to Sudan's armed opposition. Yemen, too, has a dispute with Eritrea, with the two countries exchanging accusations over fishing in their territorial waters. Eritrea and Ethiopia, meanwhile, are embroiled in territorial disputes, while Somalia has been divided into three parts over which several warlords are battling.
Against this backdrop, Israel is expanding its presence in Kenya, Ethiopia and Eritrea. It also appears to be seeking a foothold in Somalia through American humanitarian and relief organisations that are providing aid there. In late 1999, Israel's ambassador to Addis Ababa participated in a conference held in Ethiopia to coordinate international aid to Somalia. The Israeli ambassador promised substantial aid to Somalia, which had been complaining about the level of Arab assistance. Equally disturbing for Arab officials are Israeli links with Sudan's southern rebel movement.
Arab official sources are also apprehensive about Israel's potential involvement in Djibouti through the increasing American presence in the country to train Djiboutian military forces and set up headquarters to oversee operations in and around the Horn of Africa.
"What the Arab League is aiming at now is to give more attention to its member states in this part of the world and to establish a good partnership with the other countries there," Hosni explained. Towards this end, the Arab League is trying to encourage its members -- particularly the wealthy Gulf countries -- to be forthcoming with financial and technical assistance to both Sudan and Somalia. And, while not initiating direct mediation -- between Sudan and Eritrea for instance -- the Arab organisation is trying to ease tension in the region.
Parallel to these efforts, the Arab League is encouraging Arab civil society to give attention to the Horn of Africa and build bridges for social and cultural cooperation.
Said Moussa, "We are aware of the complexities of the problems in the Horn of Africa. We can work on them and we can improve understanding and cooperation".

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