US to deploy envoy to Horn of Africa

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WASHINGTON - The United States is in the process of deploying an envoy to the Horn of Africa, a region that has been battling with instability in recent years, following a series of political differences and economic challenges which have threatened to plunge many countries into chaos.

For instance, Ethiopia is facing a life-time challenge in the Tigray region, where the US has been particularly categorical that the federal government should withdraw troops and those from Eritrea, for the sake of stability. Washington believes the troops' committee genocide in November during a crackdown against TPLF.

In Somalia, the country is facing a myriad of challenges among them violent extremism, poverty, hunger, and floods, with political intolerance also brewing up. The US had withdrawn its troops from the country in January and repositioned them in Kenya and Djibouti.

To solve the stalemate, the US believes an envoy to the region will help solve most of the emerging issues, adding that in the next couple of months, Washington would have placed a new ambassador in the Horn of Africa.

"We need a senior person who is going to be focused full time on the challenges that we're seeing...in a sustained way," he said, adding that an announcement will be made soon, although he did not give an exact date or month.

Also troubling the Horn of Africa is the Grand Renaissance Dam, which has triggered wrangles pitting Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. In fact, a crisis is looming following accusations and counter-accusations between Addis Ababa and Khartoum over rebels in the Blue Nile.

Sudan News Agency reports that Ethiopia is funding a militia group along the Blue Nile, which is reportedly causing mayhem and antagonism within Sudan, adding that weapons, ammunition, and combat equipment are being provided by Addis Ababa.

The leader of the militia Joseph Touka, Sudan News Agency says, has sophisticated connections to Ethiopia's administration, and has used the links to partner for the sake of the sustainability of his troops.

"Ethiopian government provided logistical support to Joseph Touka's forces in the Blue Nile, including weapons, ammunition, and combat equipment. The support arrived in Yabous on February 27, 2021, and the support was received by Commander Joseph Touka and some of his forces' commanders," the agency said.

Khartoum now says Addis Ababa is keen to use Joseph Touka's troops to seize Kurmuk city which is found on the shores of Blue Nile, a move aimed at distracting operations within the Eastern Front in the country.

"It should be noted that the Ethiopian government aims to use Commander Joseph Touka to occupy the city of Kurmuk with the support of Ethiopian artillery, with the aim of dispersing the efforts of the Sudanese army on the eastern front," it said.

But Addis Ababa is yet to respond to the damaging report, which could further derail unity within the Horn of Africa. Sudan has been hosting refugees from Ethiopia who fled the Tigray region following a military operation that has caused international outrage.

The Addis Ababa administration is accused of cooperating with Asmara to deploy Eritrea troops in the Tigray region, who are now being accused of overseeing mass murder during the operation. Internally, Ethiopia is also confronting the worst ethnic cleansing in as many years.

GAROWE ONLINE

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