In Addis Ababa, China offers mediation for “disputes” in the Horn of Africa

China has offered to mediate for the settlement of “disputes” in the Horn of Africa, Monday, June 20, at the opening of a conference with the countries of this region where Beijing has many interests, noted an AFP journalist.

The first “China-Horn of Africa conference on security, governance and development” brings together until Tuesday in Addis Ababa China, represented by its special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Xue Bing, the Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda, represented by a minister or an ambassador. Eritrea, invited, was not present.

“I am ready to provide mediation for the peaceful settlement of disputes, based on the will of the countries of this region”, said Xue Bing, whose appointment in February showed Beijing’s determination to get involved diplomatically in this region plagued by various conflicts, in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan in particular. China has a port in Djibouti and its only military base in Africa, capable of securing its enormous economic interests (transport, industry, energy, etc.) in the region.

“We have learned from history that the Horn of Africa should not become the backyard of any country”underlined the Chinese special envoy, recalling that “many had suffered” of the “colonial domination” and “Cold War confrontations had brought the burns of war to the continent.” He called to “to avoid interference in the internal affairs of other countries” and to “reject the abuse of unilateral sanctions”.

US sanctions

The United States withdrew Ethiopia from a major trade agreement, AGOA, in November because of human rights abuses committed in the context of the conflict between the government and rebels in the Tigray region since November 2020, and imposed sanctions on Eritrea in 2021 because of its involvement in this conflict. Visiting Asmara in January, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed China’s opposition to US sanctions against Eritrea, a closed country living under an authoritarian regime.

Mr. Xue said to himself ” convinced “ that the Horn of Africa has the capacity to “resolving differences through dialogue and consultation”even though “some differences are difficult to understand because they date back to the colonial era”. He also announced China’s readiness to support various projects in food security, health, transport, trade promotion or skills building.

“This initiative is owned, led, managed and piloted by the countries of the Horn, and China only has a supporting role”underlined by opening the work Redwan Hussein, national security adviser to the Ethiopian Prime Minister. “These are our problems and the solution must come from within. The success or failure of this conference will depend on us and no one else.”he added.