Leaked Memo: US encouraged invasion of Somalia by Ethiopia

Leaked memo written from an official with the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea in 2006 detailing a meeting with Jenday Frazer, the Bush Administration’s Assistant Secretary of State for African affairs, indicates US encouraged the invasion of Somalia by Ethiopian government .

In this memo, Frazer describes the situation in Somalia as "uncertain" and puts forward the best and worst case secnario as to what would happen as a resulf of a conflict between Union of Islamic court and the Transitional Fedral Government (TFG). It is interesting in that it undercuts Bush administration officials’ later assertions that they did not encourage Ethiopia to invade Somalia in 2006.

It also reveals a bias on the part of Frazer in favor of Ethiopia and against Eritrea that many including former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton believe set back difficult negotiations on the border dispute between the two countries. The document has not been released until now. It will be of interest to people who follow US policy in the Horn of Africa.