There is ALWAYS war in the Horn of Africa. B
http://www.onelocalnews.com/howelltimesandtranscript/stories1/index.php?action=fullnews&id=110532 <http://www.onelocalnews.com/howelltimesandtranscript/stories1/index.php?action=fullnews&id=110532> Fear of war increasing in Horn of Africa Staff and agencies 26 December, 2007 By ANITA POWELL, Associated Press Writer 23 minutes ago ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Isayas Gabriel remembers when tens of thousands of his fellow soldiers were cut down during Ethiopia‘s last war with Eritrea, a 2 1/2 year bloodbath over a seemingly insignificant border town called Badme. An international commission charged with marking out the border disbanded recently after the two sides prevented it from physically delineating the border it had chosen, evidence of the stubborn resistance to mediation. Medhane Tadesse, a political analyst in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, said the tensions could affect other conflicts in the region. It‘s one that has been brewing for several decades. Once part of largely Christian Ethiopia, Eritrea, which is predominantly Muslim, fought a 30-year guerrilla war that led to a referendum and independence in 1993. But the countries disagreed over currency and trade issues, and both laid claim to towns along the border, including Badme. Osama bin Laden‘s terror group already has claimed responsibility for several attacks in East Africa, including the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 225 people. A war would further destabilize the larger region and could create more opportunities for extremists to gather and plan attacks. In fact, experts say Ethiopia, Africa‘s second most populous country with some 77 million people, and Eritrea, a Red Sea nation of 5 million, are using largely lawless Somalia as a proxy battleground. The leaders of the Somali Islamic group are based in the Eritrean capital, Asmara. U.N. arms experts accuse Eritrea of secretly supplying huge quantities of arms â€" including surface-to-air missiles and suicide belts â€" to the Somali insurgents. "It is not just soldiers, it is everything," he said. "Logistics, citizens‘ support, young men‘s commitment. We cannot do that." "There must not be a resumption of hostilities initiated by either side," Rice said. Eritrean soldiers entered the disputed border town of Badme in 1998, sparking a war. Eritrea‘s agricultural economy â€" with some 70 percent of the population involved in farming and herding â€" was devastated, and both armies suffered massive casualties. "Both believe that sovereignty over Badme is symbolically vital, even if of little intrinsic economic value," the International Crisis Group said. "Whoever finally owns that village will be able to claim victory and justify the war‘s enormous sacrifices." After the war ended, the international Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission gave the town to Eritrea, but Ethiopia has not conceded. Late last month, the panel ended its work after both countries failed to allow it to physically mark out the border, and formally grant Badme to Eritrea. The panel said it considers its work done, and that Badme belongs to Eritrea. Isayas, who fought in the 1998-200 war, is sober, but also boastful. "Since I have witnessed war firsthand, I know exactly its extent of destruction," he said. "If war breaks out, it will be the end of the regime in Eritrea." The Eritreans, inevitably, see it differently. "If Ethiopia starts a war, they will be crushed and that will be the end of their history," Eritrean Information Minister Ali Abdu said. -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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