[War] Ethiopia: Securing Somalia

[David McGrogan]

(Sources: "Why Ethiopia is on a War Footing" - 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5201470.stm;
"Who Supports Who?" - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5092586.stm;
Latest news - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5219514.stm)

"Ethiopia: Securing Somalia"
Lieutenant-Colonel Astatke, EDF 37th Mechanised Infantry regiment, 1st 
Battalion.
27th of July, 2006

Astatke stood on the flat rooftop of his Baidoa HQ, staring out at the 
Somali sunset and listening to the the city slowly settling down into the 
evening. Shopkeepers were closing up; women were making their way home from 
the wells laden with buckets full of water; children were heading home from 
play. There was peace here, for a time. It helped Astatke to remind himself 
of that, on occasion. To remind himself that it was his Battalion's presence 
here, with its 1,500 men and 100 armoured vehicles, that kept it that way. 
Safe.

The Union of Islamic Courts was gaining control of Somalia. Mogadishu had 
already fallen, and much of the Southern section of the country was under 
their direct control or the control of their allies. Their militia were by 
now within 60km of the Transitional Goverment's capital, Baidoa. Here. That 
was something Ethiopia absolutely could not allow - the fall of Somalia to 
an aggressive, anti-Ethiopian Taliban-like regime - and that was why Astatke 
and his men were in this city, guarding it from the Islamists.

"Lieutenant-Colonel."

Astatke turned and there he was - President Abdullahi Yusuf, head of state 
of a country that he could not control; backed by the USA, the EU and the 
African Union but not his own people; President only of this small chunk of 
Central-Western Somalia and the Somali flag but nothing else. He was with 
his bodyguards and his interpreter (there was no need - Yusuf spoke fluent 
Amharic, and Astatke fair Somali) and his Minister of Defence (Defence! 
Astatke always had to laugh at that - *Ethiopia* was Yusuf's only defence, 
now).

"Mr. President," said Astatke politely, clasping Yusuf's hands in the 
Islamic way. Astatke was a Christian, but it paid to play nice.

"Any news, my friend?" said Yusuf quietly, placing his arm around Astatke's 
shoulder and joining him in looking out at the sunset.

"From Haji, yes," said Astatke. Haji, one of the few towns outside of Baidoa 
were Yusuf had any influence, was where Astatke's 'A' company was stationed. 
"UIC militiamen were seen 20km South of the town. They weren't engaged. 
Their strength was estimated at one hundred men, in perhaps ten trucks." He 
shrugged. "They won't advance any further. Those militiamen are no match for 
regular troops with air support."

"I'm glad you're conident of that, Colonel," said Yusuf, smiling softly.

He was. Astatke knew that the UIC's militia would never risk an open fight 
with his men. His troops were too well equipped, too well trained. Their 
main hope was to sway international opinion against Ethiopia in the hope his 
troops would be pressured into leaving. And with the new hard-line Prime 
Minister, Zalelew Wami, in power, that was looking increasingly unlikely.

Astatke looked at President Yusuf carefully. The man came here every evening 
to talk, check up on things, but tonight there was something in his manner 
that made Astatke nervous.

"Something seems to be bothering you, Mr. President," he said.

Yusuf stared at him for a moment in silence, as if assessing how much he 
could place his trust in the Lieutenant-Colonel. "Yes," he said, finally. 
"It seems that what we feared has been confirmed. Eritrea is supplying the 
UIC militias with arms."

Astatke was taken aback. "How do you know that?"

Yusuf laughed again. "I'm not as powerless as you seem to think I am. I 
still have my contacts in Mogadishu."

"And?"

"And I'm worried. With Eritrean arms, the UIC will be a more formidable 
force than they have been up to now. Don't think that you and your troops' 
presence here is acceptable to most Somalis, Colonel," Yusuf said, shaking 
his finger. "Somalia is a Muslim country. You and your men are Christians. 
The enemy of Somalia for generations. I fear that our situation here will 
only grow worse." The Presiden sighed. "The UIC militia might have been 
scared away by your battalion for now, but I hope you don't believe that it 
will stay that way. Not now they have Eritrean aid. Bloodshed will come to 
Baidoa sooner or later. You can count on that."

Away on the horizon the dying sun was casting its wide orange light over the 
sweep of the distant sky. As it sank, it seemed to take on a darker, redder 
hue.

ACTIONS

Just general scene setting - Ethiopian troops are in Somalia to back 
President Abdullahi Yusuf's fledgling Transitional Government and protect it 
from the Union of Islamic Courts and their hardline Taliban-esque militias.

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