Introduction 

There has been an upsurge of violence in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in the last two weeks. Al-Shabaab terrorists launched a series of attacks on government and Ethiopian security forces in the city, including an attack on an Ethiopian military convoy. In the same area of North Mogadishu, an anti-Ethiopian demonstration was organized on Sunday. In response to the rise in terrorist attacks, government and Ethiopian forces increased street patrols and carried out house-to-house searches. Operations were extended to four of Mogadishu’s 16 districts and the Bakaara market was closed over the weekend. There were claims that up to 70 civilians may have died during the weekend’s clashes, and accusations that some had died as a result of Ethiopian and government reprisals. H.E. Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin has been in London this week for talks with his British counter-part. He was interviewed there by Zeinab Badawi for BBC World on Tuesday.     

Interview 

Zeinab Bedawi (ZB) Welcome Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin and thank you very much for joining me here today. Can I start by raising the issue of the 70 deaths that occurred when Ethiopia opened fire in a residential neighbourhood of Mogadishu. Was this a wise course of action? 

Minister Seyoum (SM) Ethiopian and TFG troops and the Somali police have been extremely cautious to avoid collateral damage and of course we feel regret for the loss of civilian lives, but Al Shabaab .. 

ZB ..you mean the insurgents/terrorists? 

SM ..yes, they use women and children as human shields by pushing them forward. 

ZB So these killings were not in any way a reprisal for the very public mutilation of Ethiopian corpses that took place previously?

SM No, no, no, not at all. Our army is very disciplined and they are there to do their duty. They have not gone there to drink milk but to help Somalia achieve peace and stability. 

ZB On the subject of Ethiopian troop numbers, how many are there in Somalia? 

SM It is difficult for me to say how many.. 

ZB It always is difficult! 

SM It is difficult, but I can say at least that it is not in the tens of thousands as some media reports have claimed.  It is less than this.. 

ZB So it is in the thousands not the tens of thousands? 

SM Yes 

ZB And when will you leave, as you have been there since last December and many Somalis are hostile towards Ethiopia. 

SM This is not true 

ZB But it is well documented.. 

SM It is not true, Al Shabaab has tried to stoke up animosity between Ethiopians and Somalis.. 

ZB But there has been a history of rivalry between your two nations, you fought three wars.. 

SM That is old baggage, it is history, we get on very well. Ethiopia acted on a request in writing from the TFG to come to its aid. The Somali people are generally better secured now.  

ZB But when will you leave? 

SM There is no date of departure. About the Amisom forces – Uganda sent a contingent and others are willing but the problem is resources – those who have the means [the international community], are not fully supporting the TFG who are waiting for back-up. We will not leave and create a vacuum. 

ZB So that brings us to Gordon Brown’s speech last night where he put forward the idea of a rapid response unit. Do you think it would be a good idea? 

SM I find this an interesting idea, there is already a rapid response unit for Africa – Eastern Africa has already established one standby brigade and so have other regions. It is interesting, but the troops would have to participate under the auspices of the UN or other relevant bodies. 

ZB It is known that the Eritrean government is backing the Somali insurgents – is this an extension of the deep-seated rivalries between Ethiopia and Eritrea? Is it a proxy war? 

SM No, it is not a proxy war, Eritrea’s national interests were not at stake, it does not share a border with Somalia.. 

ZB So you agree with the Americans, [that Eritrea is involved in Somalia]? 

SM Eritrea sends its troops to fight the Somali government, Ethiopia’s national interests were at stake, groups had declared a jihad against Ethiopia. 

ZB We will have to end it there, thank you very much Minister.