Borkena
Toronto – As the horn of Africa still continues to experience tension due to relations between neighbors with fears of renewed conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, influential state actors are visiting the region.
Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi started his new year overseas diplomatically with a visit to Ethiopia, as he himself told Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedion Timothewos.
That “Ethiopia is his first destination reflects’, as cited by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “China’s enduring solidarity with Africa and its role as a reliable strategic partner to Ethiopia.”
Notably, his visit to the region comes days after Israel’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa’ar visited Somaliland Republic with invitation from President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. As reported last month, Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somalia’s breakaway region which China sees as illegal. Mr. Wang Yi is heading to Somalia on Friday.
As to the diplomatic engagement with Ethiopia, the two countries, whose history of diplomatic relations stretches back to over half a century, have been describing the state of their relations as “all weather road” relation. There were times when China defended Ethiopia, a time when the latter faced diplomatic pressure at the United Nations Security Council in connection with the two years war between Abiy Ahmed’s Federal government and the TPLF led Tigray regional state.
According to a news release from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yi is pursuing to even strengthen the relationship. He reportedly reaffirmed “commitment to further strengthening the comprehensive partnership with Ethiopia across multiple areas of cooperation.” Chinese investors are said to have invested well over $8 billion birr in the country in a range of areas including infrastructure development and manufacturing – among other areas. Also, China is one of the biggest lenders to Ethiopia.
Mr, Yi met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Foreign Affairs Minister. Apart from enhancing bilateral relations and multilateral cooperation, regional security in the region was one of the agenda items for discussion. The countries are cooperating platforms like BRICS, China-Africa Cooperation Forum, and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) among others.
One clear difference between the two counties is that Ethiopia tends to support the independence of Somaliland, which has had diplomatic relations with Taiwan for several years now. China supports the government in Mogadishu which has been lacking effective control over Somaliland which broke away in May 1991- at the same time when Eritrea declared independence from Ethiopia. Despite lacking international recognition, Somaliland managed to hold five presidential elections since then and all of them were peaceful unlike the experiences in many African countries. It also uses its own currency, has its own army and security apparatus and tends to ally with the West.
Also, China has good relations with Eritrea and Ethiopia who are on the verge of another round of war. In one of his recent appearances at the Ethiopian Parliament, Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed told parliamentarians that he was “approaching countries” , including China, to mediate the two countries. After ending two decades of no-peace-no-war relation for which the Ethiopian PM was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, the relation rapidly deteriorated to a point where they are now ready for war after months of preparations. The exact reason is unknown.
Ethiopia accuses Eritrea as a destabilizing actor in the region and sees it as one of the reasons for internal conflicts. Eritrea on the other hand accuses Ethiopia of having intentions to take Assab port by force. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration has been pushing the “access to the Red Sea” agenda over the last two years. It is framed as an “existential issue” and “developmental issue”.
China has leverage on both countries but it is unclear where it stands. And there is no indication if China is moving in the direction of mediating the two countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has disclosed that China has proposed “Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa (HOA) initiative, highlighting its significance in addressing security, development and governance challenges in the region.” However, no further details were provided on how China plans to implement it or whether Ethiopia subscribed to it.
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I don’t feel comfortable when I see the old country slowly drifting away into the arms of the murderous goon in Moscow and Beijing. That will be the beginning of the undoing of the country whose unity is getting more and more fragile by bigots and connivers inside and outside the country. This bully from Beijing is telling the rulers at Arat Kilo that Commie China respects the integrity of Ethiopia with strings attached and Abiy has told the goon that he considers Taiwan to be part and parcel of Commie China. Why, You should ask? We are being told Taiwan has always been part of China for centuries. You hear that, Al-Toweel Isu? Your mentors in Beijing are talking behind your back. Come on swinging with your uni-polar/multi-polar rant.
I am concerned because it has all the footprint tracks the old country traveled along in the 1970’s. It switched its shopping mall for arms to Moscow on loan to the tune of 3 billion in US dollars. That turned out to be a loan shark that snagged the country into the claws of the former Soviet union for more than 15 years. But this time is the 2nd biggest loan in the African continent and the loan sharks are now the heartless goon from Beijing. They have been nagging and pestering the living daylight out of the over qualified minister of finance with ‘Where is my money? Where is my money?’ So Abiy and his entourage have to make their ‘bosses’ in Beijing happy with anything. This time Abiy and his crew have chosen Taiwan as their patsy. If that is so, then where did the MOU with my darling Somaliland come from? It seems someone seems to be confused or turned out to be a confused philosopher in Arat Kilo.
It also shows for a millionth time the hypocrisy of the commies in Beijing. As we all knows commies are bold face liars and hypocrite. We are told Taiwan is part of China. If so, then where did the recognition of Eritrea as a sovereign state come from? They open their mouths with ‘Workers and oppressed people unite!’ but this time with ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ around your neck fastened with back breaking loan debt. I told you not to start with me about commies! But I’m sure the blood thirsty commie in Beijing knows better not to try to be funny with Taiwan.
They are not alone in their shameful allegiance to the goons in Beijing. They are in the same boat with the other thug in Asmara, Al-Toweel Isu and his bloodthirsty gangsters.