Dear Editor,

I have thoroughly read the article entitled “Why Kenya and Ethiopia Ought to Annex and Divide Somalia” by Donald Kipkorir (a man you label as a prominent Kenyan lawyer) on your Friday, October 03, 2008 edition. After I read the article on line, I was really shocked.

I even felt in surprise when the arguments made, the data presented and the logic forwarded were all far from the truth and are not in the hearts and minds of any Ethiopian and Kenyan citizen. Moreover, when I found out that the scholar is an African born so to say Kenyan, I was very much upset for I thought that most scholars of this region are very well aware of the situation in the horn in general and in Somalia in particular.

Likewise, here is my response to this article and I hope most of you could agree with my feelings and logics. I am presenting this article not for the sake of defending. I am rather writing it in order to make the people in the horn and the international community to fully aware of the facts on the ground.

As a former Ambassador of Somalia to Ethiopia and the African Union (UN), I have been following the daily developments in my country and the efforts of the two great nations; Ethiopia and Kenya for the true cause of Somalia and Somalis.

I also know the will and interest of the two governments and their people. Leaving this endeavor aside, it is an irresponsible approach to accuse them and discourage them not to further consolidate their efforts in the years to come. It is true that Somalia has been lawless for quiet a long time and became a haven for terrorists and pirates .However, Ethiopia and Kenya have never been benefited out of the situation.

As we are all aware, the two great nations were the victims of terrorist acts in most occasions and they don’t have any interest in the nation to be the host of these evil actors. As far as my knowledge in concerned, they always wish and work for the peace and stability of Somalia and they have been collectively working under the regional organization like IGAD and the our continental organization; the African Union (AU).Their track record have so far attested this fact and I don’t think there is a will to deviate from this noble cause at this moment in time .If annexing was their interest they could have done this long long time ago.

They have been working with the peace loving Somalis and in their entire move they are of the opinion that the problem of the country is mainly solved by Somalis themselves. To realize this they tried to bring most political parties and other groups together and hosted in their own country unlike some which used to add fuel in to the problem.

Of all the points the writer raised and of all the logics he presented as an analysis (which I firmly say that it is baseless),I just want to focus on the point that mainly concerns Somalia and on the issue that tried to accuse Ethiopia and Kenya and in some cases the presentation that implies that Kenya is suffering as a result of the scenario in Somalia.

In some of the points he raised I do agree but most of the points are not true and needs to be condemned. It is very hard to be convinced by the fact that Kenya could be the enemy of the Arab countries as it hosted many Muslims including the Somalis. There is no reason either for Kenya to think of annexing and deviates the attention of the international community at this moment in time.

Is it therefore an official interest of the government or the country to deal with the issue of annexing? If not what is your reason behind saying “annexing Somalia is thus in our strategic interest and we must do it now as the financial meltdown continues to take away the attention of the world”. I am quiet sure that this is only your will and I don’t see any sign from your government and that of Ethiopia.

The two countries have a number of assignments to do at home and I don’t think that they do have time to deal with this and above all it has never been their will and interest as far as my knowledge is concerned. Of course, Somalia have been in problem for quiet a long time now due to the unrest civil war and recently the terrorist acts .However, some improvements have been witnessed after the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) came to power.

It is after the TFG’s assuming of power that much political parity and other groups representing any of the Somalia regions started to sit peacefully and discuss about the future of the nation unlike. Though the writer tried to undermine this fact, it is a plain truth and the two great nations along with the regional and continental organizations have actively participated in gearing the case forward and realizing peace and stability in the country.

We at the TFG who have been and still striving for the cause of Somalia are annoyed with the comment that says “The horn of Africa has no functioning government .The so-called transitional federal government ,led by Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed ,is confined to shell-shocked presidential compound” I want to say to the writer where he has been during those occasions and what in your professional career have you contributed towards this end ;our effort and the supports and assistance of the neighboring countries and the international community.

We are very much aware on the fact that the Kenya and Ethiopia have been victims of the global terrorism. However, we shouldn’t also jump in to conclusion that all Somalis who fled to Kenya as a result of the problem are a threat to Kenya. Is the “scholar” very well aware the very fact that most big business centers in Kenya mainly in Nairobi are owned by Somalis? In this regard unlike our country’s deteriorating situation our fellow citizens are contributing their share in the efforts geared toward the development of Kenya and Ethiopia as well.

Our threats in Somalia now are the terrorist attacks that come from the insurgents from the different parts of the world including some irresponsible governments. But at the same time we consider some who tries to terrorize the people and the government using their positions, like this scholar who writes baseless stories like this one .Here is how the writer tries to terrorize us.

“Kenya and Ethiopia must and ought to dismember Somalia and divide it between themselves along the 4 degree latitude, each taking all the land below and above the line. The division will make both countries extend their territories by roughly 300,000 sq km and additional populations of about five million. Once Kenya and Ethiopian have sent their combined arms to Somalia and declared the annexation, we will present to the world a fait accompli. ”

Whose plan is the following? Where did you get the following strategy of the two countries? Is it in your dreams or …? After all if history is to repeat itself all the time you may wish all the bad incidents and the illegal acts to happen but that is not how analysis is made.

You must not make such incidents as your true and concrete reference. It would have been better if the writer tries to make reference on what is happening in the country and what the TFG along with all peace loving bodies is doing.

Do you think the international community will give deaf ear if Kenya and Ethiopia want to annex Somalia? It is wise of you to refer to the international laws dealing with borders of nations. You tried to mention but why you denied that it is impossible to apply in Somalia. You will see that our country will be one proud African nation in the next couple of years leaving aside the current problems.

The good thing is the response to this is no and above all these two great nations have no such interests. Had it been so they would have done it long long time ago. In addition, what you mentioned as the resource is not unavailable in the two countries.

Lastly, I would like to pose the following questions; “Why is the writer very much worried of the problems that could come as a result of the disintegration and the annexing?” “ Why is he worried of the mess that could come up as a result of my fellow Somalis (who as he think will fled) in to his country?” “Why does he fail to think for us and give concern for us too? Why doesn’t he fail to think as African?” Shame on you dear fellow African and I wish you all the best and think positively.