Ethiopia aimed to extend its empire across the whole Horn of Africa.

Evidence

The Emperor has made a policy statement at Gabredarre which reveals beyond further doubt his real aims towards the Somali and the Horn of Africa. In spite of obvious embarrassment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it now seems clear that wide publicity was deliberately intended. His reference to economic links of Somalia with Ethiopia and implication that federation on the lines of Eritrea was the solution was not lost on the Somalis present at the meeting and coldly received by them according to independent reports that have reached us… . This speech merely confirms what I have always maintained, that Ethiopian practice in the territories reflected a centrally directed policy. It seems obvious that the immediate effect of this policy is to achieve full control over our tribes, in order to facilitate the next step of undermining our position in the Protectorate. This step may well be a claim for reciprocity under the 1954 agreement. The ultimate aim is, to extend the Ethiopian empire over the whole Horn of Africa. — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 442

Categorization

• QUESTION: This is a British intelligence interpretation — worth distinguishing Ethiopia’s stated policy from Somali/British perception of it.