International News
Egypt blocking Somaliland and Ethiopia?
April 25, 2010 · 16 Comments
CAIRO (Somalilandpress) — The United States Department of State said that Egypt has put forward new ideas on the international working group for combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden and for the security of the Suez Canal. It said that these ideas are being studied in Washington with the goal of implementing them.
America In Arabic News Agency quoted a statement by American Deputy Assistant Secretary for Political and Military Affairs Thomas Countryman as saying that Egypt put forward some ideas, however, he did not explain the full details of the proposals.
Countrymen said that “Egypt is the fourth President of the International Working Group, but the ideas need to be taken forward for implementation and application, and in a better way while providing the necessary funding for it.”
The State Department said that more than 20 countries now participate in the international naval force, which works to secure the navigation in the Gulf of Aden. According to State there is, on any given day, an average of 17 military naval ships patrolling the Gulf of Aden, “which is partly related to passing through the Suez Canal in Egypt.”
The canal is one of Egypt’s largest sources for foreign capital and Cairo believes that securing the canal zone and the gulf would go a long way in getting ships to return to shipping via the canal.
The State Department said in its statement that the international force “is working steadily” and securing some 30,000 cargo ships crossing from this corridor each year, many of which passes through the Suez Canal in Egypt.
The statement quoted Countrymen as saying that the “warships of the United States and the European Union and NATO and a number of other countries, including Russia, China, South Korea, Japan are working together under a united international leadership.”
He said that 24 countries formed in January 2009 a “contact group” on piracy off the coast of Somalia “under the umbrella of the United Nations.”
The group now comprises 47 countries and 10 international organizations.
Countrymen said that progress in the fight against piracy happens “consistently and steadily but not dramatically,” adding that the number of successful attacks waged by the pirates in the region has declined.
The US had earlier said that Egypt, the United States, the United Kingdom and Denmark are leading the four teams to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden off the Somali Coast. This comes as piracy in the gulf continues to run without much hindrance, although international forces have been stationed in the area in an effort to curtail the hijacking of vessels that travel through the waters upon leaving the Suez Canal.
By Mohamed Abdel Salam
Source: Bikya Masar, 26 April 2010
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Tags: Egypt, gulf of aden, Military, Piracy, Somalia, State department, suez canal, United States
Readers Comments (16)
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SOMALIA WILL ALWAYS BE ONE. FORMULATION OF NEW POLICY WHICH WILL CHANGE THE WAY WASHINGTON DEALS WITH HORN OF AFRICA IS IN THE WORKS AS I WRITE. THE COLONIAL AND POST WW2 POLICIES OF THE WEST TOWARDS HORN OF AFRICA WHICH IS CENTRED SUPPORT TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE “AMHARA AND TIGRAY”, THE MINORITY MOUNTAIN GROUPS, IN ETHIOPIA WILL BE REPLACED. THE NEW POLICY, AS ADVICED BY DISTINGUISHED POLICY ANALYST ON HORN OF AFRICA IN THE US, WILL BE CENTERED SUPPORT TO SOMALI, OROMO AND ERITREA LEADERSHIP IN THE HORN.
IN THSI POLICY, SOMALI PEOPLE IN THE HORN WILL UNITE. ONLF, KULMIYE, UCID, OMAR GELLE AND RIYALE KAHIN ARE AWARE OF THIS POLICY SHIFT. THE NEW POLICY IS SUPPORTED BY BIG OIL COMPANIES BECAUSE THEY DISTRUST MELES ZENAWI’S DEAL WITH CHINESE OIL COMPANIES TO DRILL OIL ON WESTERN SOMALIA KNOWN AS OGADEN AND THE US BELIEVES THAT IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO DEFEAT EXTREMISM IN THE HORN. REGIONAL POLICY IS DISCUSSED; CLAN POLICTICS OF SECESIONISM HAS NO PLACE IN THE HORN AT ALL.
To hell with your eridism and so call Somali Unity. Wanlaweyn and Egypt are team up to detrment the Horn and they will never succeed. Ethiopia is our brothers and we [Somalilanders] never had any problem in history. Egypt and you gues will fail.
Somaliland is here to stay even if you guys do not like it. Only time will tell who is wrong, and there is no place for those who wish to burn the Horn. International community are determine to watch and safeguard the people of Horn to prosper and live in peace.
Africa, especially those country that the Nile comes from are now adamant to use their share of the water, and Egypt has since lost the grip of the country they always wish to instigate to have continous conflicts with Ethiopia [Greater Somalia]. Peace and prosperity is the real essence that we need to live in.
boqoljireh kulaha hoyda iyo daroodkatahayba was nacalaa caqli dameerka kagayaal boqoljireh qanis darood badtahay
When a Somali rejected greater Somalia?
I am sure you are ETHIOPIAN Boqoljire and you need to realize that your adventure with the CHRISTIAN CARD to gain sympathy from the WEST is nearing to its conclusion. You are no more relevant in the Horn. The time has come to do the right thing.
Sir,
Your writing come across as you are part or supporters of those religious fanatics in Somalia funded by the radical Arabs.
Guess what, you and the like minded will change nothing when it comes to Somaliland self determination.Somaliland is here to stay for ever.
excuse you but not everyone who (rightly) sees ethiopia s an enimy is a crazed al shababist, if your country was invaded by a bunch of animals in uniform,your cities tourched and thousands of your people killed i doubt you would call ethiopia a friend.
so saib plz do your research before u speak
Runsheeg,
Go on to your Mooryaan page and pay the 10 dollar towards your clan.
The only thing you'd ever see is our dust in your face Mr. F.a.q.a.s.h
Runsheeg,
The only thing you'll see is our dust in your face. I'd suggest you go back to your mxxryaxn page and pay the $10 dollars that kills your brother.
Egypt is history and no longer important, it once had the full rights over the Nile but this week Ethiopia will host the other 7 or 8 nations up the stream and they will discuss and decide the future of the Nile.
This could not happen if Somalia existed but thanks to Somaliland, now Ethiopia can take care of Egypt and Somaliland can do the same when it comes to Somalia.
We just need to hit the last nail on their coffin and that is full recognition, Israeli arms and Western scientific education.
This is what Egypt wants and their newspaper is entertaining but Israel, USA, UK and Ethiopia will never allow such.
We know Egypt heard, Israel is coming to the Gulf via Somaliland, this has created fear among Egyptians now they want to use the piracy problem as cover up to control those waters.
Come on Israelis, Americans, Ethiopians and Somalilanders, wake up.
No crazy Egyptians in our waters.
You are very extreme in your views. You just can't be taken seriously.
Its pathetic that you believe ethiopia is your friend, or egypt is your foe. There are no such things in international relations; it is who has got you most to offer. You are taking a very miopic and short-term view.
I am all for Somaliland independence, but this does not neccesarily mean ass-licking the ethiopians.
We have to be clever about our aims and ambitions and work for the long term. Silly little rants, without proper thought or analysis, are not needed.
i hate to be a thorne in the heel but saxib which planet are you currently living on?, not that i want to slagg off "somalilands" achievements and its peaceul exsistance, however let m remind you that you're in no possition to "nail" any coffin but your own. let me refresh your memory saxib, "somaliland" is a nation on a $40 million allowance, it can barely protect is shores from piracy and scarely provide for its poor and malnorished people. on top of that its begining to show tyranical signs similarto that of siad barre (and im refferng to the cases of SOOL SANAAG AND CAYN). with all these ailments i hardly think you can sit there and pretend that somliland s this geat regional power, here's a tip man, once you gain recognition you can talk big, untill then be sensible and keep ur little trutters frimly on the ground eh? :)
I wonder where in this article it mentions Egypt blocking Ethio & somaliland lol… Cmon Somaliland press u guys should know that by now s/lander professionals from all around the world are reading & relying on you for info. This Article should have said Egypt working to assume a greater role in anti piracy effort in the gulf of aden. but then again we s/landers should grow up and play grown man politics not emotional red herring. has any one even considered implicit coercision of egypt to accept & back s/lands position on independence and recognition given supposed interest from their regional rival which btw is not Ethiopia lol… anyone ??
Somalilandpress has to block Mr. Runsheeg. He should not be allowed to share this column. He does not behave well and has to go forever.
Ethiopians are our neighbour and we got to live peace with all our neighbours and Egypt is the enemy of Somaliland for that matter enemy of whoever live neaby the Nile. So they should take their hands out of the Somaliland affairs.
LOL whater happned to freedom of speach?, if somalilandpress was dictated to by the riyale government (which im sure it is on a daily basis) they woud cry blue murder, and complain with human rights, journalistic freedoms and all the rest, for them to block others an silence heir oppinion wether for or against is TOTALLY HYPOCRITICAL and goes against the nuture of true jornalistic endvours. so boqoljire, adeer, dont encouage the press to go dictatorial, it would tarnish their image and make them an unreliable source of information. you wuldnt want that would you? i mean where else woul you get your daily dose of bigotry and make believe? :)
boqol jirah aniga hoyda wasa ina dhilo
and and by the way, your little asslicking of israel (excuse my language) was a real smoothe move, do your really hate somalia so much that you would actully stoop to the level of supporting zionsts who would have you hanged any day considering your black and a muslim? (who knows if ur a muslim by that remark). your views really do become more extreme as the seasons change LOL. wake up and smell the coffe warya, if israel or america throws you a bone its because they want to use berbera as station to attack muslim contries in the middle east, especially iran, thats their motives and its a pity you think they actully love you. how sad.