PM VISITS ETHIOPIA FOR TALKS WITH AU AND IGAD

[Camel Mlik]

Somali PM visits Ethiopia for talks with AU and IGAD

Thu. May 12, 2005 08:31 am.

Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Geddi left Nairobi today for talks with African Union (AU) East African Nations (IGAD) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AU’s preparation for Somalia mission is in its final stages and Mr. Geddi will present his parliament’s decision to accept African troop deployment in Somalia at the meeting.

 

Mr. Geddi and his new national government want to get as many African troops as possible but few militia leaders vowed to fight if foreign troops come to Somalia.

 

African leaders are balancing the need for their troops in Somalia and the opposition they may face on the ground. If a large number of Somalis do not want African troops, AU may face stiff resistance and possible uprising.

 

Somali parliament approved African troops in their yesterday’s session in Nairobi, Kenya where the government is temporarily located.

News Category: Somalia

[Camel Mlik]

Somalia will receive African troops

Thu. May 12, 2005 08:37 pm.

 

 

Mr. Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed, the new interim president and the prime minister, Mr. Ali Ahmed Geddi are in celebratory mood tonight after getting what they wanted from the African Union (AU) earlier in the day. These men’s administration will be installed in Somalia by the AU, Somalia’s new surrogate mother.

 

After a dozen or so failed national reconciliation attempts, the AU is going to disarm Somalia and muscle warlords who refuse to dismantle their militias. Unlike the humanitarian UNISOM mission in early 1990s, this one will involve in the disarmament process.

 

Troops from Sudan and Uganda will be deployed in Mogadishu and surrounding area very soon and Mr. Geddi promised to relocate his government from Nairobi, Kenya to Somalia no later than the end of the month.

 

The ball is rolling for these two men and their cabinet, at least for now. However, it is not known how Mogadishu warlords who declared war on foreign troops will react to this new development.

 

News Category: Somalia