The Ethiopian government accepted a request tabled by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Assembly of Heads of State and Government during its 19th extraordinary summit held at the Sheraton Addis yesterday to take part in military operations against Al-Shabaab and other affiliated terrorist forces.

Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, IGAD issued a statement after deliberations on the current political and security situation in Somalia. The bloc’s agenda particularly focused on the Kenya-TFG joint security operations in south and central Somalia against Al-Shabaab militants. The leaders also discussed the current status of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between north and south Sudan in 2005. They urged both parties to fully implement the terms of the agreement.

The bloc commended the continued role of Ethiopia in providing peace keeping forces in the Abiye region of Sudan and asked the Ethiopian government to support the Kenyan-TFG and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) operation. It also called upon Kenya to consider the possibility of “integrating its forces with AMISOM and to consolidate security and stability in Somalia” with a view to bring to an end the security crisis in Somalia.

Condemning the destabilization activities of Al-Shabaab’s militants and their chief backer - the Eritrean Government - it affirmed the continued supply of ammunitions to the extremist group by the latter. IGAD also demanded the government of Eritrea to free all Djibouti prisoners of war without further delay.

IGAD welcomed the admission of the newly independent state of South Sudan as a member, Mahboub Maalim (Eng.), IGAD’s executive secretary, told journalists during a press briefing.

However, the organization declined to take back Eritrea following its suspension after it withdrew its membership.

“The IGAD Heads of State and Government did not consider the re-admission of Eritrea to the bloc,” he added.

Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, AU’s Commissioner for Peace and Security, told The Reporter that the African Union is trying to find ways along with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to finance the possibility of an integrated military force in Somalia. “We are hopeful that we find the required resource. This will be an end to the Al-Shabaab militants,” he said.

The Ethiopian government earlier this week refuted claims that Ethiopian troops had crossed Somalia’s border. Head of Office for Government Communication Affairs, Bereket Simon, told Bloomberg that the Ethiopian government had no intentions of entering Somalia on its own stating that Ethiopia is awaiting a decision by IGAD on the matter.

In another news the US said that Ethiopia’s 3-year effort to stabilize Somalia by deploying its troops to the county back in 2006 was not universally successful and resulted in the resurgence of Al-Shabaab after pulling out.

According to Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, the best way to deal with Al-Shabaab and restore stability in the region is to work with AMISOM and secure the environment for the TFG.

ER