Somalia Needs Foreign Troops: The Warlords Shouldn't Set the Agenda

[Garyaqaan2]

By: Abdirizak Muse

 

March 09, 2005

 

In this 21st century, the modern world is developing so rapidly technologically and economically. Unfortunately Somalia is at the bottom of the family of nations in every aspect and is currently in a state of failed nation. It is sad to watch Somalia 's downfall as it ceases to exist as a nation .

 

Now it is the time for the Somalis to think seriously about their future and initiate how to put the country back on track and reject those warlords who have become a road block on Somalia 's long march towards peace and harmony.

 

Somali warlords had held numerous peace talks during the past 14 years but failed to make any tangible concession to one another and reach any meaningful agreement. However, the last peace talk that was held in Kenya had brought back the hope that Somali's would finally achieve their goal of reconstituting their nation.

 

This culminated in the birth of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the election of President Abdillahi Yusuf Ahmed and his Prime Minister Ali M. Geedi. Although, Mr. Abdillahi Yusuf Ahmed was not my favorite among the leaders who participated in the Somali peace conference but when the wish of the parliamentarians has surfaced, I did not have choice but to accept the outcome. Similarly I gave my support to the TNG of Mr. Abdikasim Salad Hassan and Ali Kh. Galleydh based on the same reasons in which I am for the newly formed Government of Mr. Ahmed.

 

It is about time we should say enough is enough and come up with some sort of a plan to end the chaos, disorder, wanton killing of innocent and all the horrific daily acts that has engulfed the nation and Mogadishu in particular.

 

Currently there are consultations among Somali elites and warlords about the issue of dispatching foreign troops to Somalia . In my humble opinion, I am inclined to this enterprise, in which I believe that this venture can bring back peace to Somalia .

 

We must address the harmful weapons and guns in the hands of Mogadishu 's

militia as they are the core problem. As have been said by many, the solution is to encamp these militias and prepare them for recruitment in military, police and national guards for the FTG and move them away from the clan badge of honor that they carry now. However, the big question is which countries will the foreign troops coming from?

 

The Neighbors that We Scare

 

Apparently, the sponsors and organizers of the Somali peace conference were

the IGAD member States and their approach of deploying peacekeepers to

Somalia was the centerpiece of their discussion. Africans, excluding Somali neighbors, and Arab troops were preferable to many of the Somali paticipants

of the conference. However, that was simply a wishful thinking and was not forthcoming.

 

Africa has yet to deliver any meaningful number of troops to Darfur of Sudan, despite the horrible ethnic cleansing which the whole world collectively condemned. Africa , unless there is a regional interest, has a bad track record in intervention on behalf of a sister country.

 

Therefore, TFG had run out of alternatives and was obligated to reassess its

previous position and accept neighbor countries' contribution to the peacekeeping mission in Somalia .

 

Warlords are first and foremost problematic for any Government since 1991. These thugs want to keep the staus quo regardless. They are destructive elements of our society who do nothing good but rather nonsense killings of their fellow countrymen. These monsters are responsible for the despair that Somalis endured for the past 14 years, and the abuse of the nation's natural resource. As a result our coastlines have become nuclear waste disposal as reported recently.

 

Currently some of these warlods are using Ethiopia as a scapegaot and are coming out against the deployment of the troops from the front line states inorder to continue their business of enriching themselves at the expense of the people. They have no alternative other than prolong the dismemberment of the country

 

Ethiopia has its own problems and does not have the capacity now to occupy Somalia. Ethiopia is a poor country run on foreign assistance. The country has primitive economy; its society is bitterly divided on an ethnic lines such as; (Oromo, Amhara, Somali, Tigray and Afar). The contending views of the various groups can explode at any moment and when that happens, Ethiopia may become a replica of the former USSR and Yugoslavia. Moreover, Ethiopia is landlocked state surrounded by unfriendly neighbors and therefore it is interest lies with a stable Somalia.

 

Somali circumstance in this era is in a very terrifying stage in its history, which needs a systematic, well thought way of undoing the turmoil and chaos which impeded Somali daily life. The warlord's mentality should be crystal clear to every Somali by now, needless to say that it is essential to gain back the law and order for the country. Therefore, if Arab nations and non-neighbor Africans are not ready of being part of this operation, then we have no choice but to accept the offer of the IGAD member states including Ethiopia.

 

Ethiopia is already deeply involved in the Somali affairs. For example, they do have a huge influence on the administrations of Somaliland, Puntland and other regions in the country (Bay, Bakool, and Gedo). So does Ethiopia literally control Hussien Aidid factions, Jawhar and all the border areas of the country. It is also, reported that Ethiopians have great influence on Berbera Port. If so, why suddenly the fuss now? What is sad though is Yalaxow and Caato have set the Agenda for a lot of Somalis with good intent. We now appear as the people who accused the troops of peacekeepers from neighboring country as to quote Yalaxow, "carriers of the AIDS virus" .

[General Duke]

Currently some of these warlods are using Ethiopia as a scapegaot and are coming out against the deployment of the troops from the front line states inorder to continue their business of enriching themselves at the expense of the people. They have no alternative other than prolong the dismemberment of the country

So true. They want to waste time. If Ethiopia, Kenya and Djabouti all said we wont send troops they would still be in uproar.

 

Its not about the "Amxara" but the restoration of law and order. These folks are scared to death of the mergance of a competent and strong central government.

 

There would be no more: Free criminal business, keeping of personel property without rent. The destruction of our natural environement[charcoal] and wanton clan violence as occurs every other day in Kismayu, Mogadishu and other major southern towns.

[QUANTUM LEAP]

Somali Protesters Reject Foreign Troops

 

 

Some Somalis have accepted the deployment of regional troops but not inclusion of soldiers from

Ethiopia,

Here is the Link