Ethiopia-Kenya partnership is a bright example for Africa
Ethiopia and Kenya are bound together by a special
historical relationship and as several books that I have read about the two
countries points to, their friendship is forever defined by Ethiopians’ early
support of Kenya’s struggle for independence from the British. After the latter
gained her freedom, the then Ethiopia’s ruler Haile Selassie and Kenya’s
founding president Jomo Kenyatta became bosom friends. Past aside, the two
countries have over the last decade stood hand in hand in support of one
another in overcoming acts of terrorism and threats from militants in
lawlessness country of Somali as well as other common challenges. The two
countries are among the top ten economies in sub Saharan Africa and their
proposed partnership would act as a reminder to the rest of Africa that working
together has the potential to promote change positive change. In the horn of
Africa region, I strongly believe that foreign policy must entail renewing
efforts to maintain the peace and stability that has been the region’s undoing
for decades especially in Somalia and Eritrea.
Many countries in the region have not been able to
reap a “peace dividend.” The region has had interruptions in pursuit of social
economic development that has left millions mired in abject poverty and
refugees. External environment confronts Kenya and Ethiopia equally hence the
deepened bilateral ties. The main challenges to the two countries are
infrastructure and insecurity. The situation on the Somalia, for example, has
been perennial in the horn of Africa region’s list of challenges. Risk
exponentially increased over the last decade after militant and terror
organizations took control of large swathes of land in Somalia. Also, there is
virtual indivisibility of internal and external issues with regional
ramifications that the partnership would definitely solve. Communal and
sectarian conflicts in Kenya- Ethiopian border especially in Turkana region,
communicable disease, terrorism, human trafficking and people smuggling, are
good reasons why this partnership is critical to the future of horn of Africa.
But despite the cordial relation between the two
economic giants of the region, there is need to transform “trust deficit” into
strategic partnership which has been cited as the reason why Tanzanians have
never embraced East African Community close to two decades since its revival
after mistrust led to the collapse of original East African Community in 1977.
To build trust and confidence among the two countries, Kenya and Ethiopia must
establish an enhanced formal and informal communications, governmental and non
governmental initiatives especially the one targeting the private sectors.
There is also need for the duo to commit to peaceful settlement of disputes
between warring communities in Kenya - Ethiopia border. Placing diplomacy at
the forefront when it comes to disputes would offer both countries an opportunity
to set trend of non use of force solutions that are rare in Africa and we all
recall about Ethiopia’s bloody territorial conflict with Eritrea. As a friend
of mine who works at McKinsey in New York keeps telling me, addressing
geopolitical shifts and change are some of the most challenging tasks facing
the continent. Change and transformation within African countries be it
political or economic has ramifications far beyond their borders and the same
applies with Kenya – Ethiopia partnership.
Significant transformation of the two countries
economies has turned them to drivers of East Africa region’s economic growth.
As changes take place, the two countries are now
going to usher a fresh paradigm in the region’s interstate relations, one that
promotes a dynamic equilibrium that will become an envy of many countries in
Africa and beyond. If the proposed partnership is well built through respect by
incorporating both countries principles and norms that include reflecting
common responsibility in maintaining the region’s peace and stability as they
have both demonstrated in Somalia, then the future for the partnership is more
than guaranteed to succeed. To reflect such an approach, Ethiopia and Kenya
should be ready to work toward a treaty of friendship and cooperation and
commit to build infrastructures like ongoing Nairobi – Addis Ababa highway,
confidence, solve tribal disputes through peaceful means and promote common
security. Kenya and Ethiopia can do so much bilaterally, as well as for the
horn of Africa region and for the rest of the East and Central Africa through
their partnership. The way both countries have worked together in addressing
terrorism challenges in the region can serve as a template for cooperation
among them in addressing the larger challenges confronting the East Africa
region. Me thinks that every accomplishment of this partnership sends a strong
message to the rest of the region that countries, no matter how diverse they
are culturally, politically or economically from one another, can work together
not only for their mutual benefit but also for the good of their region and
beyond. Just like Two Door Cinema song goes, something good
can work.
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