Ethiopian Prime MinisterMeles Zenawi last week said his country is prepared to withdraw troops fromSomalia. In 2006 Ethiopia invaded Somalia to oust an Islamist militia andre-install the transitional government. The withdrawal of Ethiopian troops has been a key demand of the Islamistinsurgents.
Rashid Abdi is an analyst with the Brussels-basedInterational Crisis Group (ICG).FromNairobi, Kenya he told VOA?s Akwei Thompson that the Ethiopians are signalingthat they are frustrated with this constant infighting and that at some pointtheir patience will run out.
?Therecent comments made by both Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his foreignminister that Ethiopia is ?not going to stay any longer and wants to pull out?? comes in the context of sort of a growing frustration within the Ethiopiangovernment,? Abdi said.
The ICG analyst saidthe operation itself might be proving too costly for the Ethiopians.
?Also asthe prime minister himself indicated it?s very costly to maintain troops inSomalia. Ethiopia is a poor nation with a massive population and can ill affordthat kind of financial commitment,? Abdi added.
Abdithinks Ethiopia is also discontent with the help it is getting from theWest.
?As theprime minister said Ethiopia is a convenient horse which the West sometimesrides and flogs,? he said.