The Arta Conference, Power Plays, and the Unraveling of a Fragile Alliance
Author: Warsame Digital Media
Category: Politics & History
Date: January 31, 2021
Background: The 2000 Arta Conference and Ethiopia’s Skepticism
In 2000, the Somali Reconciliation Conference in Djibouti’s coastal town of Arta sparked cautious hope for peace in Somalia. However, Ethiopia’s leadership under Prime Minister Meles Zenawi viewed the initiative with disdain, dismissing Djibouti’s capacity to mediate. Their skepticism turned to alarm as the conference gained momentum, threatening to produce a government outside their influence.
Ethiopia’s strategy shifted: they sought to co-opt key Somali leaders into the process. Among their targets was Abdullahi Yusuf, then President of Puntland, a region critical to regional stability.
The Addis Ababa Gambit: Luring Somali Leaders
In a bold move, Ethiopia dispatched a Saudi-Ethiopian billionaire’s private jet to Garowe, Puntland, to ferry Yusuf’s delegation—including myself—to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival at Bole Airport, we bypassed immigration formalities, whisked to the Addis Hilton in government limousines.
Ethiopian diplomats, including Dr. Tekeda Alemu (then Deputy Foreign Minister) and Seyoum Mesfin (Foreign Minister, later killed in the Tigray War), engaged us in informal talks. Their goal: persuade Yusuf to join the Arta process. Yusuf countered by proposing to include Mogadishu warlords, who felt sidelined by Djibouti’s civil society-focused approach. Ethiopia agreed, arranging charter flights to transport them.
Resistance and Political Theater
Behind the scenes, tensions simmered. When Ethiopian officials pressed Yusuf to endorse Arta, we recognized a trap. Secretly, we coordinated with Mogadishu warlords to boycott the Ethiopian-chartered flights and secured an escape plan via a Damal Airlines plane.
The climax came in a tense meeting with Seyoum Mesfin, who arrived in casual attire, expecting compliance. Instead, we cited the need to consult Puntland’s institutions—a diplomatic rebuff. Mesfin, stunned, watched us depart Addis the next day without formalities, marking a rupture in trust.
Aftermath: From Mbagati to Regime Change
The fallout was lasting. Ethiopia opposed Yusuf’s 2004 election as Somali President at the Kenya-led Mbagati Conference, backing rivals like Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. By 2009, Ethiopia orchestrated a Djibouti conference to expand parliament and oust Yusuf, who resigned and fled to Yemen.
Legacy of Distrust
This saga underscores Ethiopia’s dual role as both mediator and manipulator in Somali politics. The Zenawi government’s tactics—coercion, divide-and-rule, and abrupt policy shifts—left enduring scars. For Somali leaders like Yusuf, collaboration with Addis Ababa became a precarious dance of defiance and survival.
Key Figures:
- Meles Zenawi: Ethiopia’s late Prime Minister (1995–2012), known for pragmatic authoritarianism.
- Abdullahi Yusuf: Puntland President (1998–2004), later Somali President (2004–2008).
- Seyoum Mesfin: Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister (1991–2010), pivotal in regional security strategies.
Conclusion: A Lesson in Sovereignty
The Arta episode reveals the fragility of alliances in Horn of Africa politics. For Somalia, external mediation often masked foreign agendas. Yet, it also highlights moments of agency, as Somali leaders navigated—and occasionally thwarted—the designs of regional powers. The echoes of these clashes resonate today, as Ethiopia grapples with its own internal fractures.
Warsame Digital Media is a platform analyzing Somali political history through firsthand accounts and archival research. Follow for more insights into the region’s complex geopolitics at iwarsame@ismailwarsame.blog/ismailwarsame@gmail.com, @ismailwarsame.
[This post edited after posting].
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 
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