A nother regional war seems to be looming in the Horn of Africa, this time between regional players. Already the feud between Eritrea and Ethiopia has moved across into Somalia prompting both sides to side with fighting sides- Ethiopia supports the transitional government and Eritrea supports the Union of Islamic Courts. A further addition to increase the growing tension in the region is the provision of arms to factions disregarding a UN arms embargo which can only be seen as yet another sobering reminder that “peacemaking” in the war torn Horn of African country is a lost cause.

The world has for a long time neglected the plight of Somalia and should know now with the coming to light of the involvement of some 10 nations in the conflict that we might all see another protracted regional war that could take place.

The conflict in Somalia has lasted for over a decade now leaving thousands dead and thousands more as refugees. Peacekeeping in the region has become a problem following the Darfur debacle and lack of funding for the Inter Governmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD) peacekeeping mission still languishes on. As regards to the Arab League sponsored peace talks, negotiations tend to go at excruciating slow paces often accompanied by inflammatory remarks by both sides. If any peacekeeping force is to be deployed, lessons should be learnt from the Darfur experiences; we cannot fail Somalia again. Fewer troops and a limited mandate cannot prevent further killings; end the flow of weapons from neighboring countries and disarm the militias. It is even more evident that a strong IGAD force is just one part of the necessary response. The west, members of the Arab League and other African nations should also be part of the process whereby they can exert pressure on those nations involved in the conflict to stop arming proxy militias. Somalia, now a well known dismembered state seems to be beyond repair as things stand, conflict coupled with floods and famine continue to take a toll on the society; peacekeepers will have to tackle conflicts as well as the ensuing humanitarian crises head on and this is not a task to be taken lightly.

Unlike other civil wars, the conflict in Somalia is fundamentally a fight between brothers who speak the same language in the same region. The root cause of the conflict today is a direct result of decades of political repression and tribal feuds. Laying to rest these age-old feuds should be of paramount importance for any peacekeeping mission. There is a further need for all involved to understand that the Union of Islamic courts are now important players in the Somalia conflict and possibilities of including them in a political framework that could lead to a unitary government should be looked into. No doubt the problems facing the nation are big requiring years for the nation to get back on its feet. Political resolve and compromise across the political aisle need to start as soon as possible.

We have all seen the toll the Second Congo war has brought about on the people of the DRC. A conflict within a nation is difficult enough to end and even more so when other nations are involved in siding with the different factions. The UN and AU should not sit idly while such transgressions are made. The lawlessness in Somalia has affected the region long enough. It is time that we all move to end the hostilities and start the rebuilding of Somali. It is crucial that we see Somalia in peace again. We should not wait for more years for the conflict to tone down; Somalia has suffered long enough. •