Somali government calls reconciliation conference

[Jacaylbaro]

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf agreed on Tuesday to call a broad conference of clan and religious leaders, triggering the release of European Union funding for an African peacekeeping force in Somalia.

 

European aid chief Louis Michel told journalists after meeting Yusuf at an African summit in Addis Ababa that the conference would be held within weeks.

 

He said the EU would now release 15 million euros ($19 million) to fund the peacekeeping force.

 

The aid had been conditional on the interim government being inclusive in the aftermath of a war in which Ethiopian military power enabled the government to crush Islamists who had threatened to overthrow it.

 

"I was very impressed by his decision to call for a national reconciliation conference," Michel told reporters.

 

"I felt a sincere will from President Yusuf to bring together all the parties in Somalia, of course the moderates, those who want a good and right future for the country and the people."

 

"In my opinion, the conditions are fulfilled. He has committed himself with this."

 

Washington, Europe and Ethiopia have put pressure on the government to avoid revenge and triumphalism, and engage in dialogue with all parties in Somalia, especially moderate Islamists and powerful clans.

 

They fear that if the government does not make peace with all the clans in Somalia's complex political and social structure, including those who supported the Islamists, the country will slide back into anarchy and violence.

 

Michel said he had been invited to the conference which the EU would back financially.

[Abwaan]

I think Somalis should forget conference and wakhti dhammays inta Ciidanka Tikreegu dhulka Soomaaliyeed joogo, waana la ogyahay in lagu hungoobey sheekadii ciidammo Afrikaan ah.

[Emperor]

^^Will Iraq style Insurgency be the ultimate option that will deliver a lasting solution for Somalia???

[Peacenow]

These TFG have no shame, they will say anthing and do anything to profit from the people. The EU will no handover the money, when all it took, is someone to just say, we will have a conference.

They have intention to be humble or show humility as they are being given their orders by the exthiopians.

[Kashafa]

Will Iraq style Insurgency be the ultimate option that will deliver a lasting solution for Somalia

It's the only option on the table. Insurgency, yes. Iraq-style, no. None of that car-bombs in city markets for us. Inshallah, we gon do it Somali-style, short-term tactics with long-term results. We in this for the long haul. Let history record that a few chosen men stood up against the Taghoots and traitors. Never been more proud of being a Somali.

 

Sayyid-ka, Your legacy lives on, abti. Same way you battled gaalo-raac tribal figures. Same way you got bombed from the sky, when they could not face you on ground. 100 years later and we're still battling the same enemies, still fighting the good fight: Somali traitors and munaafiqs. Ethiopian Christians. Colonial superpowers. 100 years from today, we'll still be in the fray if we have to. The torch of Islam has been lit in the Horn of Africa and there is no extinguishing it while thoroughbreds live and while thoroughbreds breed.