ETHIOPIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

Ethiopia has been in the news a lot lately, especially concerning the troubles in Tigray province. But this blog is about the Middle East, and the Arab-occupied territories in particular. Obviously, Ethiopia is not an Arab country but would it be considered part of the Greater Middle East? That could be a subject of debate but in my opinion, the answer would be yes. Even though many of the local ethnicities are African, and some might be considered Middle Eastern, geographically, of the six countries that border Ethiopia, the country is sandwiched between three Arab-occupied countries who are members of the Arab League – Sudan on the west, and Djibouti and Somalia on the east. Eritrea on the north is an Arab League observer. Aside from Tigray, Ethiopia has a long-running feud with Somalia which is naturally allied with the ethnic Somalis in the neighboring Ogaden region which falls within the borders of Ethiopia. In between Djibouti and Somalia is the Republic of Somaliland which wants independence from Somalia and return to its non-Arab roots as represented by the ancient Land of Punt. (see article) Relations with Sudan and Egypt over its [Ethiopia’s] construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River have been sorely tested recently. Relations with Israel go back centuries. It is said that the Ethiopian royal house was descended from the union between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. During the late 30s/early 40s, when Italian fascist troops occupied Ethiopia, it was to the Land of Israel that Emperor Haile Selassie fled. Since that time, there was a kind of love/hate relationship between the two countries but relations have grown warmer in recent years.