EU experts fear U.S. move could spark Somalia war By Paul Taylor Tue
Nov 21, 6:53 PM ET
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union experts say the United States is pushing
to get a regional peacekeeping force deployed in Somalia and this could trigger
a wider war in the Horn of Africa, European Commission sources said on Tuesday.
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The EU executive's department for African development has warned the bloc's
governments that such a deployment could give cover for a larger military
operation against the Islamists who control Mogadishu.
The stark warning given to envoys of the 25 EU states said a peacekeeping
operation without the consent of all sides would be seen as an "invading force"
and exacerbate the risk of conflict and of jihadist attacks, the sources said.
A U.N. Security Council committee is considering what action to take after
receiving a report last week finding extensive illegal arms flows into Somalia,
both to the Islamic Courts Union movement and to the shaky interim government.
Commission sources said U.S. officials had drafted a document calling for a
partial lifting of the arms embargo and the deployment of a regional
peacekeeping force.
One EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some member states
shared Brussels' misgivings but Security Council permanent members Britain and
France were reluctant to oppose Washington openly because of the "terrorism
issue."
European Commission experts are also concerned the EU could come under
pressure to fund a regional force through its Africa Peace Facility. The
African Union has requested 15 million euros ($19.22 million) for the mission.
A U.S. State Department spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
U.S. officials have said the Bush administration is looking at a range of
ideas for Somalia, possibly including a regional force. Washington has made
clear in recent weeks that neighboring countries such as Ethiopia and Eritrea
should not be allowed to interfere in Somali affairs.
EU ambassadors discussed Somalia on Tuesday after receiving the warning
report from the executive European Commission.
"The majority of countries broadly backed the Commission line," said one
envoy, adding there would be further discussions in coming days.
BLANK CHEQUE?
The United States has accused the Islamic Courts, in the ascendancy in the
lawless East African country, of harboring al Qaeda operatives and warned that
neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia could be targets of "extremist elements" from
Somalia.
The Brussels experts argue that sending a regional security force could give
a blank check for neighboring countries to intervene in Somalia and legitimize
an Ethiopian military presence which is denied by Addis Ababa.
It would undermine EU-backed attempts to reach a political settlement in
Somalia through dialogue and play into the hands of Ethiopian-backed Somali
leaders seeking a military confrontation, they say.
They say the United States is already providing Ethiopia and Kenya with
logistical support and U.S. special forces had been observed on the
Kenya-Somalia border.
They argue that any "peace support" operation could act as a cover for a much
broader military operation against the Islamic Courts, or give the Islamists a
pretext to launch a pre-emptive attack on Baidoa, seat of the provisional
Somali government.
More widely, it could exacerbate conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea,
accused of arming the Islamic Courts, and draw in Sudan, making it harder for
the international community to stop violence against civilians in the Sudanese
region of Darfur. (Additional reporting by Mark John)
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