East African countries are considering having Ethiopian military join the conflict in Somalia tocreate a third front against Al-shabaab insurgents. The African Union peacekeepers are fighting in Mogadishu, the Kenyan troops in the South of the country and now the Ethiopian soldiers returning to Somalia after they left in 2008, but the case is still being discussed and there is no agreement in place.
The news of Ethiopia returning back to Somalia, doesn’t like President Sheikh Sharif, but according to some officials in his government, he has no choice.
Separately, this week Kenya announced a new cooperation pact with Israel and this could play straight into the hands of Al- Shabaab, who present themselves as the true defenders of Islam in Somalia. The group immediately circulated recruiting agents from mosque to mosque, telling potential followers that the Kenyans were bent on a religious crusade in Somalia and had teamed up with Israel.
Experts say the insurgency only flourishes because of corruption and abuses by the government.
"Taking towns is the easy part. Then you have to hold them and provide security and make them nice places to live," said Roger Middleton, a Somalia expert at London-based think tank Chatham House. "Islamist organizations have been defeated militarily quite a few times but the hardcore leadership always comes back because they are one of the few people with a political vision that goes beyond their clan or sub clan."
Meanwhile Human Rights Watch warns Kenya of abuse in Somalia. "Kenya’s Somalia operation has resulted in apparent attacks on a camp for displaced people and a fishing boat," Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. "Kenya needs to find out exactly what happened and make sure that those responsible for any wrongdoing are punished appropriately."
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