Recent Senate hearings on policy issues in the Horn of Africa signify the importance that the US gives to the region and Ethiopia in particular, American ambassador to Ethiopia Donald Yamamoto said on Thursday.

“Ethiopia is our strategic partner; it is not just a strategic partner but a cornerstone country. It is a cornerstone not only for the US but for the region too. In the wake of the crisis in Kenya and the ethnic violence there, people now look to Ethiopia and say, ‘is this the last stable place in the region?” Yamamoto said.

On Tuesday, the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on African Affairs, heard the testimony of four authorities on issues related to the Horn of Africa.

Particular emphasis was given to the conditions in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia and the regional implications.

Senator Russ Feingold, who chairs the committee, said in his opening statements that: “Today’s hearing will address U.S policy towards arguably the most worrisome region on the African continent - the Horn of Africa. Since I visited that region just over a year ago, the situation has gone from bad to worse. Today’s hearing is an effort to examine the United States government’s policy towards the Horn - specifically Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia - and to assess what we’ve done right, what we’ve gotten wrong, and most importantly, what we need to do going forward to reconcile what appears to be - by most accounts - a failing policy in a very critical part of the world.”

He added that the hearing was intended to not only inform the legislative process in the Senate, but also to continue to emphasize the need for a more interconnected and balanced approach to the Horn of Africa that addresses each country specifically while still recognizing the transnational challenges and national security implications. “This part of the world is far too important for us to rely on narrow, feeble policies or half-hearted ad-hoc measures,” Feingold said.

Yamamoto, who described Feingold as an “honorable and conscientious” individual, said that the senator’s interest was an important indication of how much focus is being given to the region as whole but Ethiopia in particular.

“If you have a very articulate and ve¬¬¬ry thoughtful person as Senator Feingold focusing on Africa, then that is important. We commend him and are willing to work with him. Senator Feingold’s major concern was Somalia. As you know back in 2002 the United States was criticized not only by Congress but by the media also for what we were doing in Somalia. Certain US agencies were supporting some clans while others were saying that we ought to be neutral. So Senator Feingold’s questions are: What is the policy? Why do we support one clan and not the others? Why are we supporting the TFG and not the moderate elements of the UIC? So these are the questions that are very valid.”

With regards to Ethiopia, according to the annual State Department report on human rights, and the testimonies given by US administration people Yamamoto said that “there are bright spots and there are troubled spots.”

“But the overall theme that came out of those hearings is that Ethiopia is a very important strategic partner and that we need to commit resources, energy and people to ensure that we have a stable country, to make sure that we do not have a country like Kenya or Eritrea. And ensure that we have Ethiopia’s support in trying to stabilize Somalia and the region.”


BY Namrud Berhane