roobleh Posted March 14, 2007 Caamir, I am not a fan for either ICU or TFG. But, there is always hope, and may be oneday another sensible group will show leadership in Somalia. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NASSIR Posted March 14, 2007 The world is for some reason reluctant to help us resolve our problems, that maens not showing a tangible interest to Somalia's plight. If the government asks money, it is withheld on the basis of unmet conditions but the way to meet them is for the government to consolidate its authority. Once it consolidates and builds its institution with the money as a management tool, it can thus bolster the security of the Capital. The Secretary General's Special Representive for Somalia, Lonseny Fall even confirmed that the biggest challenge the government face is the security inside the Capital. The rest of the country is very much peaceful than the capital. Somalia appeals for 42 million dlrs to secure blood-soaked capital NAIROBI (AFP) - Stung by a deadly insurgency in Mogadishu, Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi on Wednesday appealed for 42 million dollars (32 million euros) to help improve security ahead of a peace conference. Speaking in Nairobi, Gedi said the funds would be used to secure lawless Mogadishu -- wracked by violence since an Islamist movement was ousted by Somali-Ethiopian forces in January -- ahead of a National Reconciliation Congress scheduled for April 16. "Simply put, they will be the largest and most far-reaching reconciliation efforts that have ever taken place in the history of Somalia," Gedi told journalists and representatives of donor nations. Since 1991, more than 14 attempts have failed to restore stability in the Horn of Africa nation. "It is an issue that we cannot address alone and we need the full support and the cooperation of the international community and foreign donors," he added. The prime minister said he would welcome moderate Islamists to the congress that will take place in the wake of escalating insurgency in Mogadishu, blamed on hardline Islamists believed to be assisted by foreign-based terrorist groups. He said they could attend the process as long as they came representing their clans and subclans and not as representatives of the Islamists. Several western donors have made their financial support conditional on the government's willingness to welcome Islamists into the conference to avoid future trouble. Gedi spoke in the Kenyan capital a day after a mortar attack on Somalia's presidential residence and two other attacks in the capital. "We can't deny that there are security challenges in the country and particularly in the capital city," he said. "Still there are external elements of terrorists in Mogadishu." Gedi said the government had deployed 4,000 soldiers in Mogadishu to help African Union peacekeepers who are also deploying there, but had so far recieved no financial help to train the military. Some 1,200 Ugandan troops, part of an AU peacekeeping force, arrived in Mogadishu last week and have already secured the capital's main airport, despite being attacked. The AU mission aims to deploy some 8,000 troops with a six-month mandate to enable Ethiopian forces to leave and Somali forces to take over security. Somalia has lacked an effective government since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
