The indispensable role Ethiopia plays to bring lasting peace!

Gemechu Tussa

There has been an ever rising demand of the people in the Horn of Africa for regional peace and stability. IN recognition of that, nations in the region have exerted various efforts under the auspice of the African Union Commission in a bid to ease the escalating peace.

As the Horn of Africa is mostly identified as one of the most volatile regions of the world, mainly because of the protracted civil war and boarder disputes. For example South Sudan that waged one of the longest wars in Africa with Sudan is still suffering from the consequences of the civil war between the   rival sides.

The war between the two rivalries has now flared up once again claiming the lives of thousands of people and compelled tens of thousands to flee to neighboring countries.

The current conflict in South Sudan has driven hundreds of thousands of people out of home.   It happened amid all the efforts exerted to bring the two parts to a peaceful dialogue and negotiation. In this regard, Ethiopia has made a tremendous endeavor.

In fact, its sacrifice for lasting peace in the region particularly in South Sudan and Somalia has emanated from its firm stand to alleviate poverty and ensure sustainable economic development.   That is why Ethiopia has been paying blood sacrifice to ensure peace and stability in Somalia for a long period and in South Sudan from recent years. 

According to available documents, peace building is one of Ethiopia’s major agendas. Past twenty six years witnessed that the country has managed to ascertain its peace and stability. However, regional peace is so crucial for all the countries around. Unless there is regional peace, all countries could be affected by it.  

The instability in Somalia and South Sudan, countries in the Horn of Africa, could significantly affect the peace and stability in Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti.  It is possible to avoid all these anti-peace elements and practices if there is a real collaboration among all states in region and the international community.

Besides, there should be strong public participation in all plans to avert terrorist activities. It is the consolidated efforts of all parts in the region that could help to realize an enduring peace and stability. Therefore, all the people in the region are the sole partners in ensuring and maintaining peace in the Horn region.

The Horn of Africa now deserves the cooperation of the international community against these escalated conflicts in South Sudan and Somalia. That is why Prime Minister Hialemariam urged the international community to pay attention to the volatile region.

The support of the international community is required as bringing lasting peace in the area has become so challenging. One of the major reasons is financial constraints, which could be an area where the international community could intervene.  

The other problem could be the failure to comprehend the fact that the sole stakeholders of peace are the people. The efforts exerted to strengthen the participation of the people are insignificant.

The people have their own mechanisms to bring and maintain peace that local people could easily make peace and stability a reality even in dangerous situations. 

Ethiopia could be considered as a model country in this regard too. It managed to ensure and maintain lasting peace and stability through strong public participation.  

Public participation in realizing peace and stability remained so strong that many of the destabilizing attempts foiled due to their involvement. 

Many political analysts argue that public participation could help both in identify peace spoilers and maintain lasting peace. That is why the Ethiopian government is consistently talking to the local population in evaluating security problems in the country.

This experience must be practiced in countries in the region. There should be attempting to make the people of Somalia and that of South Sudan sole partners of the struggle for peace in order to realize an enduring peace and stability in the region.

The international community could also intervene in creating awareness in the general public about some of the anti-peace elements and the terrorist practices which undertake under the pretext of religion.

Ethiopia has been working in collaboration with other countries to bring lasting peace and stability in the region particularly in the two countries.  It is part of AMISOM in supporting Somalia by providing trainings for security forces. 

As a result, al-Shabaab is facing a major onslaught from the Somali security forces backed by the African Union Mission to Somalia troops.  It is, in fact, time for all stakeholders and the international community to come together against al-Shabab and other peace poisoning groups. 

The Ethiopian government has taken the lion’s share in this regard. Ethiopian has been striving to help Somali brothers. The same is true to the people of South Sudan.  But the situation, particularly in South Sudan has escalated and there is a need for the international community to lend a hand to the regional effort of ensuring lasting peace.