Blow to Somalia Peace Force

[Castro]

Malawi has denied agreeing to contribute troops to an African peace force for Somalia - prompting renewed doubts about the viability of the plan.

 

"A decision has not been taken," Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika said.

 

The 8,000-strong force is to replace withdrawing Ethiopian soldiers, whose intervention in support of the interim government swept Islamists from power.

 

Meanwhile, a protest against their deployment has been held in an ex-Islamist stronghold in the capital.

 

Analysts fear that unless the growing insecurity in the country is contained quickly, Somalia will slip back to the anarchic misrule which has prevailed in the country for the past 16 years.

 

Ethiopia says it is still seeking an early withdrawal, despite slow progress in drumming up enough peacekeepers.

 

Confusion

 

Before this week's summit of African leaders, the AU said it had 4,000 of the 8,000 peacekeepers needed for Somalia.

 

Further public pledges were not forthcoming at the meeting, although there are reports that Burundi has also offered to send troops.

 

So far, Uganda has offered 1,500 troops, subject to parliamentary approval expected next week.

 

Nigeria and Ghana have also both agreed to contribute, although exact numbers are not known.

 

Mr Mutharika, however, denied the AU's assertion that some 1,000 Malawi troops would join the force.

 

"We have not discussed this in the cabinet, neither have we consulted the various state-holders in Malawi like the opposition and others who must be consulted in an issue like this one," he said on Wednesday.

 

In the Somali capital, Mogadishu, the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan said some 200 people demonstrated against a peacekeeping force on Thursday morning in the north-east of the city.

 

They shouted angry and slogans and placards read: "We don't want foreign troops" and "Down with Ethiopia".

 

Other have also protested about the detention in Kenya of Islamist financier, Abukar Omar Adan, 72.

 

Meanwhile, the former speaker of the parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan - sacked two weeks ago - has told the BBC that the election of his successor was illegal.

 

Mr Adan, who is currently in neighbouring Djibouti, was removed for having unauthorised talks with the Islamists, who ruled much of Somalia until last month.

 

He had also opposed Ethiopia's military intervention to help the government drive out the Islamic group.

 

His dismissal was criticised by the United States saying it went against the spirit of reconciliation needed in Somalia and it was likely to have a negative impact on dialogue.

 

Our correspondent says that because of increasing insecurity martial law is being imposed country - putting all powers into the hands of the president for the next three months.

 

BBC

[N.O.R.F]

Maybe there is no peace to keep no?

[Castro]

Hundreds Protest in Somali Capital

 

By MOHAMED SHEIK NOR

 

Associated Press Writer MOGADISHU, Somalia |

 

Hundreds of Somalis demonstrated Thursday against a plan that would place foreign peacekeepers in the country.

 

The protesters chanted anti-government slogans and burned tires, a day after the African Union said three battalions of peacekeepers from Uganda and Nigeria were ready to be deployed in Somalia and will be airlifted in as soon as possible.

 

"We will not tolerate foreign troops coming to our country," demonstrator Saida Hussien said. "We will show the world that we are against the foreign troops."

 

The demonstrators, who protested in northern Mogadishu - an area known for its strong support of the Islamic group - carried placards that read, "We don't want foreign troops," and "Down with Ethiopia," referring to Ethiopia's military intervention that routed the Council of Islamic Courts.

 

The protesters called for the return of the Islamic movement, which was credited with restoring some order in the violent nation.

 

Factional violence has again become a feature of life in Mogadishu since last month when Somali government troops with crucial support from Ethiopian soldiers, tanks and war planes ousted the Islamic movement. Mortar and grenade attacks have also been launched against Ethiopian and government troop garrisons in the city.

 

Ethiopian troops have begun withdrawing, presenting the possibility of a dangerous power vacuum.

 

The African Union was pressing ahead with its peacekeeping mission to Somalia despite securing only half the 8,000 troops needed at a key summit of African leaders that ended Tuesday. Five nations - Uganda, Nigeria, Malawi, Burundi and Ghana - have pledged around 4,000 troops so far.

 

Somalis are wary of a foreign peacekeeping force following the disastrous U.N. intervention in the early 1990s, a bloody period even by Somali's turbulent history.

 

Somalia has not had an effective national government since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on one another, throwing the country into anarchy. The transitional government was formed in 2004 with U.N. help.

AP

[Jamster]

Xaasidin Ilaa xasada--- ********* supporters will always hate a peace in our part of somalia. shame on you all. you should be ashamed of yourselves.

 

[ February 02, 2007, 03:24 AM: Message edited by: Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar ]

[Jacaylbaro]

What are u talking about ???? who is xaasidiin ?? what is eedoorland ????????

[Jamster]

Aladiina yaxzadoona alkheyraata fil junuubi soomaal

[Jacaylbaro]

wahum fil shimaal miyaa ??

 

Anta mukhdi',,, inaka fii khada'in kabiir ,,, aladiina yasduuna humuladiina yaciishuuna fil januub nafsuhm ,,,,,, laysa illaa

[Jabhad]

If you call Somaliland "xaasidiin", what you call Munaafiqiinta Xabashada iyo Mareykanka usacabtumeeysa dagaalka ay Umada Muslinka Somaliyeed kula jiraan. Liberators?? What a coward. 2006 Somali waakala baxday adeer. Some made golden history bringing peace to much of Somalia without outside help and fighting enemy occupation and others brought shame to themselves and Somalia by bringing outside enemy to kill and occupy our country. And will not succeed. Glad to be part of the Somalida xalaasha ah. History is made indeed.

[Jamster]

You want to dismember the country and now you caryingwolf. What is up with that?

 

I don't agree with Ethopians troops being in our country, but I detest when I see succesniosts pretending to be upholders of sovreighty. That is just purely distasteful man.

[Warmoog]

Originally posted by BloomDeyr:

Xaasidin Ilaa xasada--- ********** supporters will always hate a peace in our part of somalia. shame on you all. you should be ashamed of yourselves.

A tribally-charged dig? How unsightly. It is against the rules of this forum, and it says more about you than anyone else.

 

 

No wonder the Politics corner is considered the sordid underbelly of SOL. Just when you think people have finally mastered the basic rules of netiquette, they let slip something that harkens back to their days in the misty jungles of SomaliNet. I cannot quite put my finger on exactly what may have gone awry, but this little forum of ours has changed (in a bad way).

 

[ February 02, 2007, 03:26 AM: Message edited by: Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar ]

[NGONGE]

Originally posted by Jacaylbaro:

wahum fil shimaal miyaa ??

 

Anta mukhdi',,, inaka fii khada'in kabiir ,,, aladiina yasduuna humuladiina yaciishuuna fil januub nafsuhm ,,,,,, laysa illaa

What a priceless gem this is.

 

la fuda fooka ya jacaylabaro.

[Jamster]

Ngone; waylun likuli shimaalin aladiina yacsowna la amuuri soomaal.

 

Warmoog: underbelly kulaa; aryaa wadanka kala goyntiina marabno

[SomaliThinker]

This BloomDeyr should be reported, this is not Somalinet, use of words like that to describe a whole group of people is wrong, the admin should no of this.