[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E271-E272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      CRISIS IN THE HORN OF AFRICA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM SAXTON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 24, 1999

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I spoke on February 9, 1999, to remark that 
it was essential that we act to help stop the escalation of the crisis 
in the Horn of Africa, and particularly the Ethiopia-Eritrean war, if 
the region was not to slide further into chaos. Since then, the 
anticipated war between Ethiopia and Eritrea has erupted and it keeps 
escalating. The war has already long-term and dire ramifications for 
both countries--beyond the impact of the growing numbers of casualties 
on both sides. The war is largely a low-tech and fairly static war of 
attrition along long miles of rugged and inhospitable terrain. The new 
offensive just launched by the Ethiopians is yet to alter the overall 
character of the war. However, both sides have embarked on an intense 
effort to acquire high quality air power in order to break the 
deadlock. Both countries not only purchased several late model combat 
aircraft and helicopters from states of the former Soviet Union but 
also engaged a large number of air crews and technicians to fly and 
maintain them. This effort, that is yet to impact the situation on the 
front line, is rapidly exhausting the hard currency holdings of these 
already impoverished states, thus further reducing their chance of 
economic recovery and development.
  Dire as the situation in the Horn of Africa is, and as much as the 
casualties are lamentable, it is a valid question to ask: Why should 
we--the United States--care about yet another debilitating war in a 
remote part of Africa? Fortunately, the war has so far had little 
impact on the civilian population, there were no massacres, and there 
is no famine. Hence, there is no humanitarian catastrophe to attract 
our attention. Hence, I repeat, why should we care?
  The reason we should pay close attention to the mounting crisis and 
escalating war is the vital strategic importance of the Horn of Africa 
to the United States and its close allies. The geo-strategic position 
of Ethiopia is central to several mega-dynamics stretching all the way 
from the Middle East to East Africa. Thus, the impact of instability 
and war reverberates directly to the heart of such areas commonly 
accepted as vital interests of the United States as Israel or the oil 
producing states of the Persian Gulf. Here are several major strategic 
factors in the region, demonstrating its great importance to the 
security interests of the United States:
  1. The security of the Red Sea/Suez Canal Sea Lane of Communication 
(SLOC), which vitally affects EastWest trade (not just the oil trade) 
between Europe and Asia, including particularly Japan and Australia. 
Within this context, the ability of Israel and Jordan to maintain 
adequate maritime access to the Red Sea (and therefore world trade) is 
significant.

  2. The containment of the spread of Islamist radicalism and 
terrorism--a process currently sponsored by Sudan's National Islamic 
Front (NIF) Government with the assistance of Iran. The hub of 
international terrorism in Sudan supports subversion throughout the 
Arab world and East Africa. A personal patron of Osama bin Laden, 
Hassan al-Turabi, Sudan's spiritual

[[Page E272]]

leader, was instrumental in inspiring and sponsoring the bombing of the 
U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Having sponsored the eviction of 
the United States from Somalia, Khartoum is now trying to capitalize on 
the crisis in the Horn of Africa in order to evict the United States 
from the rest of this strategically critical area. Toward this end, the 
Islamists support several Islamist separatist movements in both Eritrea 
and Ethiopia, most notably the support for the radical separatist Oromo 
forces designed to break up Ethiopia still further.
  3. The management of the Nile waters is critical to the stability, 
prosperity and growth of Sudan and Egypt, and therefore the stability 
of the entire Middle East. Egypt is completely dependent on the Nile 
water for its very existence and Cairo will therefore do anything to 
ensure the Nile's uninterrupted flow--including joining the radicals of 
the Muslim world, turning on the United States, Saudi Arabia, and 
Israel, etc. Sudan is also the driving force behind and key sponsor of 
the destabilization of Egypt. Gaining a foothold in Ethiopia will 
provide Khartoum with the possibility to manipulate the Nile's flow 
without direct implications.
  Thus, stability in the Horn of Africa, and especially the existence 
of a unified and pro-Western Ethiopia, is of crucial importance to the 
national security of the United States. We must care and worry about 
the escalation of the Ethiopia-Eritrea war and the Sudan-sponsored 
Islamist forces exploiting it. This position is shared by the Ethiopia 
Crown Council. In my previous comments, I urged that we help reinforce 
the position of Prince Ermias SahleSelassie, the President of the Crown 
Council of Ethiopia, who is attempting to restore a policy of unity and 
moderation on Ethiopia and the region. Recently, Prince Ermias has 
written an excellent analysis of the crisis for the Defense & Foreign 
Affairs: Strategic Policy, the journal of the respected International 
Strategic Studies Association. In this overview, he urges that we see 
the Eritrea-Ethiopia conflict in the context of the broader regional 
strategic situation, to ensure that radicalization of the region. 
Prince Ermias stresses the dire ramifications of the deteriorating 
situation in Ethiopia:
  ``What we see now [in Ethiopia] is far less democracy and opportunity 
and prosperity than was being created under the Constitutional Monarchy 
of Haile Selassie. What we are witnessing today is a society led by 
people who arrived on the scene by accident; who are mired in divisive, 
petty squabbling. The result is that the region is divided and at risk. 
And the risk is one shared by the entire world: a further breakdown in 
the region could lead to the collapse of the pivotal powers, and a 
total disruption of the trade routes and the Middle Eastern oil trade. 
But worse than this, by not seeing the Ethiopia-Eritrea dispute in the 
broader context and acting accordingly, the world may be condemning the 
peoples of the region, including those of Egypt and North Africa, 
Arabia and the Northern Tier, to many more years of despair.''
  I share the view and the anguish. I add that the strategic posture of 
the United States is adversely affected by the reverberations from, and 
impact of, the continued war in the Horn of Africa. This is why we 
should not only pay attention to events there, but also act to bring an 
end to the war. However, any negotiated settlement that would leave the 
regional strategic posture unchanged would only be a short term and 
temporary solution. Ultimately, it is imperative that long-term 
solutions are attained--nation building and economic revitalization 
under condition conducive for flow of private funds, not just hand outs 
of humanitarian assistance.
  What makes the situation in the Horn of Africa so unique is that 
there is no need for a U.S. military intervention in order to establish 
such stability. There are indigenous forces in Ethiopia that, if 
properly supported, can help their own country and the entire region. 
I'm talking about the Ethiopian Crown Council. Constitutional monarchy, 
as was the case in the days of Emperor Haile Selassie, provides the 
best opportunity for Ethiopia. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that in Prince 
Ermias we have someone who understands, and can help stabilize the 
entire Horn of Africa. The situation is now becoming critical, and we 
must find ways to support him in the process of reunifying Ethiopia, 
which cannot be allowed to be dismembered, and in helping to bring 
about regional reconciliation--thus protecting and furthering national 
security interests of the United States and its close allies.

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