State Department:Deployment of a Regional Force Needed in Somalia

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

Media Note

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

November 28, 2006

 

 

Deployment of a Regional Force Needed in Somalia

 

 

The United States strongly believes that a sustainable solution in Somalia should be based on credible dialogue between the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). The continued military expansion by the UIC has prevented this dialogue from moving forward and has created the need for deployment of a regional force. This force will deter further aggression against the TFIs; create the required space for dialogue; and stabilize the situation.

 

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), chaired by Kenya and headquartered in Djibouti, and the African Union have put forth a proposal aimed at restoring stability in Somalia through deployment of a training and protection mission. The sole purpose of this deployment would be to stabilize the security situation by providing protection and training for the TFIs, not to engage in offensive actions against the UIC. The United States supports this regional proposal and views IGASOM deployment as a critical element in facilitating the resumption of credible dialogue between the TFIs and UIC.

 

While deployment of IGASOM is a critical element in reaching a durable solution in Somalia, it is not the only element. As part of a longer-term solution, both parties should be prepared to reach a security protocol, including a verifiable ceasefire and plans for military disengagement, once dialogue resumes. The United States also welcomes the recommendations of the Somalia Monitoring Group regarding ways to improve the effectiveness of the United Nations' arms embargo on Somalia. As we address these and other issues, we continue to work with our partners in the United Nations Security Council and International Somalia Contact Group to seek a durable solution to the Somalia crisis.

 

The United States will remain actively engaged in preventing the continued escalation of tensions inside Somalia, which could spark wider regional conflict in the Horn of Africa if left unchecked. The deployment of a regional force is key in ensuring that such a scenario does not transpire.

 

2006/1073

 

 

Released on November 28, 2006

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

World

Somalia: Islamists extend invite to foreign fighters

28 Nov 28, 2006, 19:23

 

 

Indha Ade, security chief

MOGADISHU, Somalia Nov 28 (Garowe Online) - The Islamic Courts Council has extended an invitation to “foreign fighters” from Muslim countries to come join their cause if the 1992 UN arms embargo on Somalia is lifted.

 

“We proclaim to the Muslims of the world to prepare for jihad and we invite Muslims of the world to come inside Somalia,” Yusuf Indha Ade, the Islamists’ head of security, said while addressing a public rally in Mogadishu on Tuesday.

 

Hundreds of supporters rallied in Mogadishu against Ethiopian military intervention and plans to lift the arms embargo, a move proposed and supported by Somalia’s weak, two-year interim government.

 

The government’s authority is limited to the inland city of Baidoa and is reliant on IGAD military support, especially from neighboring Ethiopia.

 

 

Somalis demonstrate against foreign troops

The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African regional grouping that sponsored the Somali peace talks in Kenya, has proposed plans to deploy 8,000 peacekeepers to assist the Baidoa-based government assert its authority.

 

At Tuesday's rally, Islamist leaders, including Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, again rejected any plans to lift the arms embargo and vowed to wage jihad against any foreign peacekeeping force in Somalia.

 

Aside from the Mogadishu region, the Islamist militia is either in full or partial control of 10 of Somalia’s original 18 regions, including strategic southern ports on the Indian Ocean coast.

 

Garowe Online News

source

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

how odd that this people protesting today against lefting of the arms embargo all took weapons to the rally. Am I the only one who found this Ironic? How retarded do have to be to do something like this. honestly, the government could not have asked for better PR then the pics of these gun toting jihadis declearing jihad against Somalia's neighbors and asking international terrorist to come to Somalia.

[Somali_Friend]

The invitation for international terrorists is to cover all that are already there. SSICU is trying to be smarter than everybody and saying all came after you lifted the embargo, not before, but what they didn't realize is I am not sure who it was, probably Queybdeed whose folks have taken pictures in mugadishu clearly showing:

 

1. Eritreans whose positive identification was confirmed, one of them to the level of village he was born, let alone the units he belongs in the eritrean army.

2. OLF soldiers manning check points immediately after the war lords was defeated and the check points were not removed yet for security check.

 

3. OLF and Pakistanis were seen and spoken to in Kismayo.

 

This is something any ordinary person can confirm if they have someone locally to talk to. The secret services of different countries of course will have much more information.

 

The thing I can never understand is in ethiopia if a person is called a shiek by his village and all, white lie is one thing thats alien to him.

I probably would see some exaggeration maybe they are at war, but white lie and a shiek never mix.

[General Duke]

how odd that this people protesting today against lefting of the arms embargo all took weapons to the rally. Am I the only one who found this Ironic? How retarded do have to be to do something like this. honestly, the government could not have asked for better PR then the pics of these gun toting jihadis declearing jihad against Somalia's neighbors and asking international terrorist to come to Somalia.

These people out did themselves... The Clan Court news media is having a difficult day, even the bbc/somali section website is down...