A different step by the President

[Camel Mlik]

NAIROBI, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Instead of fighting his way into Mogadishu, President Abdullahi Yusuf plans to win control by patiently negotiating the disarmament of its turbulent militias.

 

 

To many that goal, outlined in a recent Reuters interview, might seem out of character coming from an Ethiopian-backed career soldier not known for his deal-making diplomatic skills.

 

Coaxing warlords to lay down their guns has been the stated aim of all of Somalia's many peace attempts in 14 years: They failed in the face of predatory militia bosses keen to hang onto lucrative fiefdoms in one of the world's most anarchic cities.

 

But Yusuf, a provincial military strongman before he was elected president by lawmakers at peace talks in October 2004, said he can succeed because he would prepare thoroughly.

 

"Step by step we are going towards Mogadishu," Yusuf, 70, said. "I still have four years of my term left, and I hope Somalia will be pacified sooner than that."

 

Ten months after he was elected by lawmakers at peace talks in Kenya, Yusuf and most of his ministers are still based in provincial Somali towns as they consider Mogadishu too risky.

 

Several other heavily armed cabinet ministers as well as parliament speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan want Yusuf to come and work from the anarchic coastal city of one million.

 

But supporters of Yusuf, whose political base is north-central Somalia, believe that by doing so he would put himself be at the mercy of warlords and businessmen in a city where real power still comes from the barrel of a gun.

 

Yusuf said he was determined to "pacify" the city, infested by an estimated 60,000 gunmen.

 

But he would not bow to demands that he go there now.

 

"What they are asking is absolutely impossible...and in my opinion the speaker of parliament and other (government) members who are in Mogadishu are making obstructions of the process."

 

"Their aim is no peace, no government for Somalia, at least for the time being," Yusuf said. "And if they don't want any peace or any government for Somalia, on what basis we can agree with them?"

 

Yusuf explained that while the city's warlords might not like his approach, ordinary people would reward any leader able to demobilise the militias who have preyed on Somalia since militias ousted former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

 

He said the city's current militia bosses had failed because they had not offered demobilised gunmen alternative employment.

 

CHECKPOINTS

 

"They say to people 'Take away your checkpoints. Go to your home' without food, without education, without promising a future to these young people. So the next day the road blocks are multiplying. So nothing succeeded up to now in Mogadishu."

 

Yusuf said he would bring enough resources to the job right.

 

"If they put down their weapons we have to create something for them," he said. "We have to assure them that they will get everything they peacefully instead of at gunpoint."

 

His aides are haunted by the fate of a previous attempt at a government, which never held more than a few Mogadishu streets.

 

Yusuf is recruiting fighters across the country, and allies explain he will not get the respect of Mogadishu warlords unless he first builds enough muscle to make them see the need to talk.

 

Yusuf says there is nothing sinister about the force, but he was wary when asked its size. "My God that is not a question! Can you ask a man 'Show me your mouth, I will count your teeth'? I do not answer your question," he said.

[Camel Mlik]

So what you guys think of the President idea for the checkpoints and how he plans to handle it?

Also what you guys think of the president not bowing down to the demands that speaker of parliament and the war-lords are making?

 

I agree with the president for not bowing down to these guys because they don't have any basis the they could be agree with them on.

 

"But he would not bow to demands that he go there now.

 

"What they are asking is absolutely impossible...and in my opinion the speaker of parliament and other (government) members who are in Mogadishu are making obstructions of the process."

 

"Their aim is no peace, no government for Somalia, at least for the time being," Yusuf said. "And if they don't want any peace or any government for Somalia, on what basis we can agree with them?"

 

I think the idea for the checkpoints will work as long as the promises are meant. as the president said

 

"They say to people 'Take away your checkpoints. Go to your home' without food, without education, without promising a future to these young people. So the next day the road blocks are multiplying. So nothing succeeded up to now in Mogadishu."

"If they put down their weapons we have to create something for them," he said. "We have to assure them that they will get everything they peacefully instead of at gunpoint."