First there is Ethiopia.  This nation which is second only to Nigeria in African population is land locked.  This frustrates its economic growth as its exports leave the nation mostly via air which is extremely expensive or via road which is very dangerous and unreliable.  Ethiopia wants a seaport and has fought its neighbor Eritrea throughout the decades trying to seize the beautiful seaport capital of Asmara.  The Eritreans have proven themselves to be fierce fighters and have resisted every attempt with the last conflict ending in 2000.  Lately, Ethiopia has turned its attention to war torn Somalia which has a very attractive and extensive coast line on the Horn of Africa viewing sea lanes to and from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

Somalia is a basket case. The movie Black Hawk Down detailed just how difficult this can be to a large, awkward world power like us.  The war lords have drifted into two major camps.  One is comprised of Islamist extremists who are becoming quite chummy with al-Qaeda.  Osama Bin Laden has been quoted as saying Somalia will be the setting for the next big regional conflict against the “Crusaders”.  The other camp is Christian, more or less, and is seeking protection and moral support from Ethiopia.

Then there is Eritrea.  This small nation strategically located on the Horn of Africa has a violent past with Ethiopia.  Throughout the last 150 years there has been massacre, battles, general conflict one right after another.  If you want to listen to instilled resentment and hatred, have a conversation with some Eritreans about their opinion of the Ethiopian governments during the last few generations.  They each have personal tragedies that they blame on Ethiopia.  If you really want to see some excitement attend a cocktail party in Washington, DC where the room is populated with both Eritreans and Ethiopians (Eritreans are the “high yellow” ones) and watch how volunteer segregation works.  Whatever Ethiopia supports Eritrea will oppose.  Thus, Eritrea supports the Islamist extremists who have recently declared Jihad (Holy War) against Ethiopia and the Christian Somalians.

The above are the main ingredients.  Two nations of people who have been fighting against each other from generation to generation joined together with a nation that has no official governing body and has become a virtual 24/7 battleground for all inhabitants.  What is needed in this region is sophisticated agri-business.  Water reservoirs, effective irrigation and big time farming strategies to feed the huge populations and prevent the recurring famines and medical disasters such as HIV and malaria are what we and the so called United Nations need to do here.  But no the “wild, wild West” (us) has another plan.

In our infinite wisdom, the United States has begun to train the Ethiopian Army for battle in Somalia.  That’s right, we are about to start a proxy war.  US trained troops have already entered into Somalia to fight the Islamists.  This has caused Eritrea to go on the “nut”.  They in turn are sending troops into Somalia to boost the Islamists.  As you read this, a US Naval Task Force headed by an aircraft carrier is in route to park itself off the coast of Somalia.  Thus, al-Qaeda is responding, in kind, through recruitment and locating their wildest to enter into Somalia and assist in the new Jihad.  We are pouring gasoline on something that is already very hot.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, “Because the United States has accused Somalia of harboring al-Qaeda suspects, the Ethiopian-Eritrean proxy conflict increases the opportunities for terrorist infiltration of the Horn and East Africa and for ignition of a larger regional conflict”.  This is getting ready to blow up.  Meanwhile, the UN is typically pontificating and theorizing about the matter.

We need to send doctors, medicine, educators, entrepreneurs and funding for modern infrastructure and agri-business.  Providing unlimited weapons and fire power is not going to be the answer.  We have yet to learn from the Rwanda, Congo, Sudan, Cote D’Voire, and Sierra Leone.  Simply put, war is not the answer.  Marvin Gaye taught us this back in 1969.  Why do we do this over and over again when it comes to Africa?

Maybe it’s an agenda we don’t really know about.  Most African Americans want Africa to dwell in peace.  We want our relatives to enjoy their vast natural resources and to be represented by elected officials who have the interests of their respective nation and people paramount to everything else. Keeping a rich continent in conflict enables exploitation and theft of those rich resources that God has blessed it with.

Mr. Alford is the Co-Founder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce.  Website: www.nationalbcc.org.  Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .