November
17, 2006: There is growing evidence that Eritrea is providing military support
to Somalia's Islamic Courts militias, and that Ethiopia is providing military
support for Somalia's Transitional Government. Egypt, Iran, and possibly the
Hezbollah guerrilla organization are also supporting the Islamic Courts. Yemen
may have sent weapons to the Transitional Government.
Ethiopian
troops reportedly took positions near the Somali village of Modmodey (about 15
kilometers from Baidoa). If the report is accurate, that places Ethiopian
troops between Baidoa and the most forward positions held by the Islamic
Courts.
November
15, 2006: Eritrea's president accused the U.S. of "stoking conflicts" in the Horn
of Africa. He claimed that the U.S. favored Ethiopia over Eritrea. The
political attack may be part of an attempt to thwart the deployment of a US or
UN-led peacekeeping force into Somalia.
November
14, 2006: The boundary commission charged with demarcating the Ethiopia-Eritrea
border has issued a proposal that attempts to break the current impasse. A
letter from the commission said the commission is considering establishing
"fixed points along the border." Eritrea and Ethiopia would then negotiate the actual
border between the fixed points. An Ethiopian government spokesman rejected the
idea, calling it "invalid and politically dangerous."
November
13, 2006: Islamic Courts fighters claimed they captured two tanks "with
Ethiopian markings" after a firefight near the Somali town of Bandiradley. The
claim was unconfirmed.
