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October 11, 2002 |
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What is that HAC can
accomplish |
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that IGAD cannot? |
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M. Filli A. |
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Major
preparations are under way for an international conference on: PROSPECTS FOR A HORN OF AFRICA CONFEDERATION (HAC), to be held Nov. 14 – 15, 2002, in
Tampa, Florida, USA. The conference is spearheaded by the University of South Florida and
sponsored by notable Academic institutions in the USA including US government
agencies. Suggested speakers include: |
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From USA: Gen. Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State |
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From the Africa Union: Mr. Amara Essy,
Secretary General, and |
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Chairperson: US Senator Bob Graham. |
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The purpose of this article is to point out the redundancy of HAC in light of IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development). |
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In this era of war on international terrorism, it is indeed necessary and even mandatory for the international community to identify socio-politically unstable regions, to work and assist them to gain/regain socio-political stability, and to integrate them in the global strategy of counter-terrorism so that international terrorism can be nipped in the bud then and where it might be brewing. To this effect, the organizers of the above conference have recognized that “One of the regions that requires heightened international attention and vigilance is the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibouti) because of its obvious geo-political significance.” and elaborated: |
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1. “With a population of nearly 100 million, the Horn of Africa is of immense importance to the international community. |
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2. The headquarters of the Organization of African Unity as well as the Economic Commission for Africa are situated in this volatile region. |
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3. In
addition, it is bordered by the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian
Ocean |
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4. and is proximate to the oil producing countries of the Middle East.” |
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While I concur with assertions 1,2, and 4, assertion 3 “In addition, it (meaning HA or Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibouti) is bordered by the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean” is out of place, outrageous, and misleading. Only Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia are bordered by the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean. Ethiopia is not bordered by any kind of water body. Don’t take it from me, just refer to the conference’s own map of HA or even better the geo-political map of the Arabian Peninsula, below. Certainly Ethiopia is geographically located in the Horn of Africa and belongs to any such confederation and I do not underestimate it’s potential to contribute to the stability/instability of the region. That was just a humble pointer meant to set the record straight. Incidentally, the term “bordered by the Red Sea” in conjunction with Ethiopia is and has been hallucinogenic to successive Ethiopian rulers including the present one and should not be used again lest it triggers another war due to territorial megalomania. In light of that, I kindly ask the organizers of the conference to redress assertion 3 and to reconcile it with terrestrial realities of the Horn of Africa. I like to believe that this is an honest oversight and not meant to send any subliminal messages and can be rectified accordingly? For those who would like to set the record straight in this regard, please write to mlouissa@eng.usf.edu, thanks. |
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Let me now direct your attention to the geopolitical map of The Arabian Peninsula, below, for a brief note about its global economic significance and the global strategy to secure it. |
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1. Strait of Bab el Mendeb 2. Suez Canal 3. Strait of Hormuz |
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I take it from the background document of the conference that the region of the Horn
of Africa required heightened international attention and vigilance because
of its “obvious geo-political significance”. But it would be myopic to refer
to the geo-political and strategic, I might add, significance of the Horn of
Africa in isolation for it is a vital and integral component of the global
strategy surrounding The Arabian Peninsula where 2/3 of world’s Oil reserve
is located and on which the global economy is so dependent. Three vital
maritime portals control the waterways, access to, and commercial
transactions to and from this oil-rich region: 1. Strait of Bab el Mendeb
(HA), 2. Suez Canal, and 3. Strait of Hormuz. It is, therefore, clear that
the security and safety of these maritime portals, which in turn is a
function of the socio-political stability of their respective regions, is of
paramount significance. In other words, the socio-political situation in any
one of those regions could indeed “significantly facilitate or disrupt global
logistics and commerce.”, as the organizers say. And in this era of war on
global terrorism, there is no doubt that paying an extra attention and
keeping an extra eye on, in, and around those three geo-politically strategic
regions is imperative. |
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Having said that,
while the primary beneficiaries of socio-political stability in the Horn of
Africa are the inhabitants of the region, it secondarily serves and
contributes positively to the purposes of the global strategy surrounding The
Arabian Peninsula, from which Horn of Africa nations will also benefit.
Hence, cooperation between Horn of Africa and industrialized nations in this
regard is certainly of mutual benefit, but must be regional and based on
mutual interest, in the strictest sense of the word. |
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Regional
socio-political stability in the Horn of Africa necessitates
institutionalized regional alliance. And one such alliance is the
institutionalized confederation of Horn of Africa and adjacent countries
known as IGAD(Intergovernmental Authority
on Development). IGAD represents a broad-based, sensible, and
institutionalized confederation for mutual support and alliance of Horn of
Africa and adjacent countries (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan,
Kenya, Uganda) united for a common purpose. IGAD grew from the need to combat
severe drought and famine that plagued those countries as a simple authority
on drought and development (IGADD) and has progressively adapted and is adapting itself to the
changing socio-political situation in the region and globally now
encompassing expanded objectives and mission. Moreover, head of states of IGAD confederation have
expressed their commitment to cooperation on counter terrorism repeatedly and
in no uncertain ways. In summary, “IGAD's Mission is to achieve regional cooperation and economic
integration through promotion of food security, sustainable environmental
management, peace and security, intra-regional trade and development of
improved communications infrastructure”. IGAD Development Partners include the USA, EU, WORLD BANK, UNDP
and more. |
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That being brief history, objectives, and declared mission of the IGAD confederation, I kindly ask the organizers of this conference in particular and the public in general: |
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What is that HAC can accomplish |
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that IGAD cannot? |
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Let there be no misunderstanding here, Eritrea
is not Confederation-phobic. To the contrary, one of the first things that
Eritrea did immediately following the formalization of its national
independence in 1993 was to immediately join the regional confederation of
IGAD in the same year. It also joined COMESA and more. |
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I take it from the background document of
the conference that what the proposed HAC is set out to accomplish can be
easily accommodated by the IGAD confederation. Hence, HAC is not only redundant
but also divisive because the proposed HAC members are also active members of
IGAD. |
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I, therefore, suggest that it would be
sensible and productive to transform this conference into a conference to
strengthen IGAD, broaden its mission and objectives, and to explore ways to
integrate it into the global war on terrorism rather than breaking it up? |
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Dr. M. Filli A |
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NJ,
USA |
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References:
IGAD, www.igad.org |
