Blowing the Horn of Africa
By Sarah Pollak, Erick Stakelbeck
CBN News Terrorism Analyst
January 19, 2008
CWN.com - The ongoing violence in Kenya is drawing the world's attention.
But for about the past year, most of Kenya's neighbors, in what is known as the Horn of Africa, have been experiencing serious troubles of their own.
This kind of instability in the region could very likely lead to global instability.
A quick look at the conflicts spreading across the Horn of Africa paints a bleak picture.
"E" Stands for Explosive
The big "E's" of the east, Ethiopia and Eritrea, have been on the brink of war for the past few months.
More than 250 million troops are massed on the countries' buffer zone.
A long-standing, unresolved border dispute sparked a war a few years ago that killed more than 70,000.
Both countries claim the same land as theirs, and that doesn't sit well with either of them.
Now it looks like the two countries are gearing up for "round two."
Simmering in Sudan?
The genocide in the Darfur region seems to be slowing a bit, and will hopefully improve now that the United Nations is in charge.
But there are some rebels who have sworn to make trouble for the peacekeepers.
And the long-term effectiveness of the U.N. mission is in doubt. The Muslim north and the Christian and Animist south are showing signs of a strained relationship.
Only three years in to their peace agreement, some analysts say there's a good chance the two factions could go back to war in the coming year.
Kenya's Internal Strife
Many might find it hard to believe that Kenya is the region's most stable nation.
But the recent violence following the presidential election threatens to cause long-term problems.
Many feel the incumbant president has "stolen" the election.
And there are those who will not rest until he is deposed, which has turned the election into a referendum on different tribal conflicts.
The ethnic violence there is bringing back horrifying memories of the genocide in Rwanda.
Sinking Somalia
Somalia is home to perhaps the most troubling situation in the Horn.
The U.N. calls it the "world's worst humanitarian crisis." And there is still no clear "winner" in last year's war between the Islamic radicals and the government forces.
Foreign insurgents from across the Muslim and Arab world are still in the country.
And all the unrest is a fertile training ground for al-Qaeda terrorists, who like to take advantage of the unrest to do as they please within the country.
Adam Hassan has worked for the transitional federal government of Somalia.
He says the insurgents have big plans.
The very design - like al-Qaeda - is not a national design," said Hassan. "It's not something meant for Somalia. It's something that's global. It's the works of al-Qaeda."
Over the past year, Somalia has been held in check by its neighbors Kenya and Ethiopia.
But now these two countries are busy with problems of their own.
And there doesn't seem to be anyone left to make sure the terrorists hiding out in Somalia won't regroup and plan an attack.
Just what does all this mean for Americans?
The longer the region is de-stabilized, the worse things are going to get.
More insurgents - some of them from Afghanistan and Iraq - may escape to these regions and live to fight the U.S. another day.
If there are no African countries available to keep the insurgents in check in Somalia, the greated the chance of al-Qaeda-related terrorists slipping through the safety net and striking American interests.
CBN IS HERE FOR YOU!
Are you seeking answers in life? Are you hurting?
Are you facing a difficult situation?
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
