IGAD Vows to Take On Somali Warlords

[SOO MAAL]

IGAD Vows to Take On Somali Warlords

 

The East African (Nairobi)

NEWS

March 28, 2006

Posted to the web March 28, 2006

 

By Fred Oluoch, Special Correspondent

Nairobi

 

Leaders attending the 11th head of states summit agreed to deploy a peace mission to the war-torn country with or without the consent of the faction leaders

 

Despite having successfully guided the peace process in Somalia, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states have been under pressure to prove that they have the capacity to see through the peace process to its conclusion.

 

That is why last week's decision by the seven IGAD member countries to deploy security forces to Somalia is seen as a bold move.

 

Leaders of Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan - agreed at the 11th heads of state summit in Nairobi to deploy peacekeepers in the country with or without the consent of faction leaders.

 

Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed has been pleading for a regional intervention force to help foster his besieged government. He has also called for the lifting of the UN arms embargo to allow the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), which was formed in Nairobi in 2004, to arm itself.

 

Yet, whereas IGAD succeeded in facilitating conflict resolution forums, the regional body had failed in deploying peace-keepers in Somalia one-and-a-half years since the signing of the Somali peace accord because of strong resistance by armed groups which are opposed to the deployment of troops.

 

The international community has also been lukewarm in committing itself to the post-conflict reconstruction programme, citing internal disagreement.

 

Lacking popular mandate and military superiority to subdue anti-peace elements, the TFG has achieved very little since its formation. Internal differences between President Ahmed and the speaker of the interim parliament Sharif Hassan has made matters worse.

 

The TFG is yet to step into Mogadishu - the designated seat of government as prescribed in the peace Charter - because of security concerns. But analysts now argue that the fact that the interim parliament held its meeting in Baidoa in February is an indication that much can be achieved with serious commitment from IGAD members.

 

The meeting was significant in that it is the first time in 15 years since the war broke out that a parliament has assembled inside the country.

 

As a result, IGAD heads of state have pledged both financial and political support for the security of Baidoa to allow smooth parliamentary sessions in the south-central city, which is regarded as neutral by both factions in government

 

According to the Kenyan ambassador to Somalia, Mohammed Affey, the recent IGAD Summit made considerable achievements since there was renewed political interest and commitment by the region's leadership for the implementation of the agreement inside Somalia.

 

Mr Affey dismissed sceptics who say the latest commitment by IGAD leaders is just lip service for the international audience.

 

"It is worth noting that the last IGAD summit at the presidential level was when President Ahmed was sworn in. Therefore, not much could have been done at that level until the next meeting. The fact that they attended the summit and committed themselves publicly shows that they are keen on the implementation of the programme. But it is upon the Somali people to first put their house in order," he said.

 

Kenya for instance, Mr Affey says, is keen to ensure that the peace pact succeeds given the security implication and has offered to help train manpower and rebuild institutions that were destroyed during the war.

 

So far, the Kenyan and Somali parliaments have signed a memorandum of understanding for the former to chip in with expertise whenever needed.

 

Still, despite the renewed vigour by IGAD heads of state to enforce the Somali peace accord, the deployment of peace-keepers still remains tricky.

 

Various civil society groups supported by some warlords are opposed to the deployment of troops from the frontline states of Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. They say these countries have been deeply involved in the affairs of the country since the fall of Siad Barre in 1991 and are pushing for their own selfish interests. However, the groups have no problem with troops from Uganda and Rwanda.

 

Some residents of the war-torn country have been expressing strong opposition to outside peace keepers since the coming into being of the TFG in 2004, and more fiercely since February when the African Union authorised an IGAD peace mission to be sent to Somalia.

 

Analysts say the resistance to peace-keepers from the frontline states could be justified because most of these countries declared their willingness to send troops without consulting the Somali people.

 

However, the continued wrangling within the TFG over its location, has hampered the establishment of the national security and stabilisation plan, which is a prerequisite for the deployment of foreign peace-keepers.