IGAD calls for withdrawal of foreign forces in Somalia

[bambo]

IGAD, a regional seven-nation mediating body, has called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Somalia amid fears that ongoing sporadic clashes would escalate into all-out war in the region.

 

"The IGAD calls for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Somalia and respect for the territorial integrity of Somalia and appeals to all countries to observe the UN arms embargo on Somalia in order to promote conductive environment for dialogue and reconciliation," IGAD said in a communique received here Monday.

 

The call came as the powerful Islamists of Somalia have reportedly recruited foreign Islamist fighters to participate in the war against the transitional government and neighboring Ethiopia which they accuse of backing the interim government.

 

Addis Ababa has admitted hundreds of its military trainers are helping the government but denies they are taking part in any conflict.

 

Participants at the Dec. 1-2 meeting in Djibouti, where IGAD is based, reportedly include IGAD Executive Secretary Attalla Bashir, SCIC foreign affairs chief Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Addou, Kenya's Ambassador to Somalia Mohammed Affey and Ethiopian Deputy Foreign Minister Tekeda Alemu.

 

The SCIC pledged to resume talks with the UN-backed government in Sudan's capital of Khartoum, but analysts say hopes of going to Khartoum in mid-December looks slim as previous rounds of Arab League-mediated peace talks between the Islamists and the government yielded a truce and a mutual recognition pact but both have been violated amid heightening tension.

 

The meeting of IGAD, which groups Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda, also came as Speaker of Somalia's parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden renewed calls on Sunday for dialogue between rival groups.

 

"I am calling on the Islamic court and the government to refrain from actions that could lead to full-scale conflicts,"

 

Aden told a news conference in Nairobi.

 

"Talks can at least defuse tension and, if handled properly, could lead to a peaceful settlement. It is so easy to start war but no one knows when it will end. Therefore, I am advising all Somali entities to look for amicable solutions," he said.

 

The speaker's plea came as Somalia's internationally recognized government, formed two years ago, edges closer to securing regional and international approval for the deployment of foreign peacekeeping troops in Somalia.

 

It also welcomed a draft UN. Security Council resolution that would authorize a regional force to protect the fragile government.

 

Somali Information Minister Ali Ahmed Jama Jangali said over the weekend the United States-led proposal is a step in the right direction to stabilize his country. He said he hopes the draft will be adopted quickly.

 

The U.S. ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, circulated the proposal at the Security Council on Friday. He said the resolution envisions an 8,000-member peacekeeping mission staffed by IGAD.

 

However, the powerful Islamist faction that has seized control of most of the country rejected the proposal Monday. An Islamist spokesman said the group is opposed to the idea of foreign troops coming to Somalia.

 

Somalia has been without a functioning central authority since the 1991 ousting of strongman Mohamed Siad Barre and the two-year- old transitional government has been unable to assert control.

[Jaylaani]

How come Duke isn't responing to this new development?

[bambo]

Thangs to the IGAD and UIC Meeting in Djibouti .

 

This video explains it all watch it .

 

 

Uic argreed on several issue that was hunting Ethiopia and kenya .

 

1. Uic will not allow any rebel groups to use somalia as base to attack kenya or Ethopia .

 

2. Uic will not bring back NFD keny and ****** region issue .

 

3. America wants guarantee that Uic is not terroirst threat and will not cooperat with any terrorist Org .

[Che -Guevara]

Originally posted by Jaylaani:

How come Duke isn't responing to this new development?

They are not paying him for the overtime

[bambo]

Leave the General alone ,

 

his in a state of shock , No Amricans are comming , Tigrey troops are leaving , his chance of getting post TFg has vanished .

 

Warlords era in Somalia is done sxb ,

[Jaylaani]

He must be searching around to find any kind of news to dispute this phenomena

[bambo]

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - War was imminent, said Somalia's Prime Minister Ali Gedi but said that their government will continue to take part in all peace efforts.

 

But he said his government was preparing to defend itself against attacks by the Council of Islamic Courts, as the movement that has taken over most of southern Somalia is known.

 

"We have already mobilised our forces, we have trained a few thousand troops, they are ready," Gedi said during a visit to Ethiopia's capital. Ethiopia has backed Gedi's government, angering the Islamic movement which sees it as interference from Somalia's traditional rival.

 

Somali's rainy season is coming to an end and roads will be passable again for military vehicles in the next two weeks, he added. But Gedi said his forces would not attack the Islamic courts.

 

The United States has said the Islamic movement has links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist group. Islamic leaders have repeatedly denied the accusation.

 

Gedi said the most radical leaders within the courts have taken control of the movement and they will not take peace talks seriously.

 

"They are the decision makers now," he added. "Those who believe that the situation in Somalia will be solved through dialogue and talks are wrong."

 

He said the Islamic forces included more than 3 000 foreign fighters, echoing similar statements made by a UN panel investigating violations of an arms embargo that has been in place since 1992, when the last effective central government in Somalia collapsed.

 

Gedi's internationally backed government is the 14th attempt to restore the rule of law in Somalia. But his parliament and Cabinet, made up of former warlords and civic leaders, has struggled to expand out of Baidoa, a key town 250km north-west of Mogadishu.

 

From within this power vacuum, a disparate group of Islamic leaders have banded together to create the Council of Islamic Courts, driving out warlords and installing clerical rule in the areas it now controls.

 

The international community has sponsored several rounds of peace talks to bring Gedi's government and the courts together.

 

Gedi pointed out that after each round of talks, the Islamic courts returned to Mogadishu and dispatched troops to capture additional territory, despite promises to stop their expansion.

 

Ethiopia has sent military advisers to Baidoa and has trained Somali troops to protect the government. On Friday, the United States introduced a UN resolution to partially lift the arms embargo on Somalia to allow for regional peacekeepers.

 

US officials say that by providing the government with peacekeepers, the Islamic courts will have a greater incentive to pursue peace talks, rather than a military solution.

 

Gedi said his government needs international support in order to survive against what he calls the terrorist forces within the Islamic courts. He said the draft resolution should allow any country to provide troops to protect his government.

 

He said recent suicide bombings in Baidoa were contrary to Somali culture and proof that foreign fighters had come to Somalia.

 

"Suicide bombings was transferred to Somalia from elsewhere," Gedi said. "It will not stop in Somalia, it will spread out."

 

The United States has issued a travel advisory for Somalia's neighbours Kenya and Ethiopia, warning that extremists in Somalia could launch suicide attacks in those countries

[bambo]

Geedi the new somali warlord :eek: :eek:

 

This fool is only good at entertaining foreign Audiance .

 

 

"We have already mobilised our forces, we have trained a few thousand troops, they are ready," Gedi said during a visit to Ethiopia's capital. Ethiopia has backed Gedi's government, angering the Islamic movement which sees it as interference from Somalia's traditional rival.

 

 

Geedi Qoute " They are the decision makers now," he added. "Those who believe that the situation in Somalia will be solved through dialogue and talks are wrong."

 

 

what force is geedi talking about , TFG is sourounded in Baydhawa and its being portect by Tigrey troops and they too will be leaving soon .

[Gabbal]

Bambo, do you know foreign forces the communique is mostly aimed at?

[Thierry.]

Good I am glad that they are coming to their senses, I think that the destabilization of their respected countries is what they feared.

 

I suppose this is the reason why Geedi is so frantic lately; he and Yeey know their party is coming to an end.

[Wiilo]

War dad badan ayaa arintan shock ku tahay not only one person.

 

IGAD must presure Ethiopian regime's to withdrow it's troops from somalis first. This needs to happen before anything period...

 

 

Go figure:.............

[Somali_Friend]

Originally posted by bambo:

 

 

what force is geedi talking about , TFG is sourounded in Baydhawa and its being portect by Tigrey troops and they too will be leaving soon .

bambo,

The whole SICU camp has got the wrong advice. I don't know where it came from, but it must be from the menelik or mengistu boys. What a terrible advice they have got.

The more you and ICU keep repeating Tigray, the more the fakery gets exposed. Let me give you two examples:

1. In the debate in the ethiopian parliament, one of the leaders of the opposition raised a question that the prime minister meles zenawi and his Tigray organization were on the side of somalia. The whole house was so quiet, because its the gossip of the opposition that the Tigray sides with Somalia and most friendly to somali.

You will not look bigger by puting yourself opposite to Tigray, than puting yourself opposite to your own brother. You will not make Puntland, Djibuti, Somali state, Somaliland, Bay and Bakool...look small by accusing them for having good neighborly and in somali state case good place in federal system and autonomy.

 

2. The menelik and mengistu boys were the first ones that accused the what you are calling the Tigray of being too islam friendly. They were accusing and still do accuse the current government of having moslems as justices and if that was not enough chief justices, military commanders, secret service chiefs, more moslem ministers than christians...the accusation is endless, but the bottom line is that there is absolutely nothing the government does that can be considered against Islam. If there are problems, its obvious to all they are problems of poverty and backwardness of the country.

 

ICU came out swinging with Jihad on somalis, but made it look like its doing it against christian ethiopia. That has failed flat and its only ICU that got egg on their face in the islamic world.

Some moslems were simply shocked to hear the words Jihad and Negash together. Only an imposter can do that. There is an imposter in Mugadishu and if left alone will declare he is next Mahdi.

Be it ethiopia or somali moslems have the primary responsibility in stopping this shenanigan.

 

Sheik Hassan Tahir has every right to fight ethiopia or anyone else if he feels agrieved or his clan business interest is in jopardy, but he cannot be allowed to make Blasphemy of Islam.

 

This is not coming from ordinary followers, but teachers, leaders, sheria courts chairmen..etc.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Finally Yurub's pressure, led by undemocratic Security Council member Ingiriiska and non-member Talyaani, is working. Mareykanka, too, realized by supporting Amxaar/Tigreey to invade Soomaaliya will only add fuel on the dabka.

[Kamalu Diin]

Originally posted by Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar:

Finally Yurub's pressure, led by undemocratic Security Council member Ingiriiska and non-member Talyaani, is working. Mareykanka, too, realized by supporting Amxaar/Tigreey to invade Soomaaliya will only add fuel on the dabka.

Are we supposed to support ICU because of less two eval or we should question for their stand.