Somali opposition dismiss nomination of new PM

[Castro]

Fri 23 Nov 2007, 16:37 GMT

 

By Jack Kimball

 

ASMARA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Somali dissidents rejected President Abdullahi Yusuf's nomination of a former attorney general as premier, saying the move would do little to end an insurgency against government troops and their Ethiopian allies.

 

Yusuf nominated Nur Hassan Hussein on Thursday three weeks after his predecessor quit under pressure over a lack of progress in building a transitional goverment -- the 14th attempt at restoring central rule since the 1991.

 

Now a senior Red Crescent officer, Hussein is largely seen as a politically neutral figure, but a spokesman for an opposition group uniting former lawmakers and Islamists was sceptical about Hussein's ability to make a difference.

 

"The issue is not changing one person for another. The (issue) is about a new strategy for the withdrawal of the Ethiopian occupation forces from all of Somalia," said Ahmed Abdallah of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS).

 

"There is no policy change. Still (Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles) Zenawi is instructing his followers in Somalia," he told Reuters in an interview in the Eritrean capital Asmara.

 

If the nomination is endorsed by parliament, Hussein faces a tough challenge as the prime minister of a country facing what the United Nations says is Africa's worst humanitarian crisis.

 

Thousands have been killed in fighting this year between gunmen loyal to ousted Islamist leaders and allied Somali- Ethiopian soldiers. One million Somalis have fled their homes.

 

U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday it was concerned about the welfare of at least 26 Somalis detained at Nairobi's main airport and wanted access to the mainly women and children.

 

They were among 49 Somalis returned to Kenya after flying via Nairobi to Uganda from Mogadishu. Of that group, 23 were forcibly flown back to Somalia on Tuesday without being given the chance to seek asylum, UNHCR said.

 

"We have received reliable information that all of the Somalis of the group expressed fear of persecution were they to be returned to Somalia," UNHCR said in a statement.

 

"We are now extremely concerned that the remaining group ... will be returned to the Mogadishu area, where continuing unrest and fighting would put them at extreme risk."

 

Kenya has denied deporting Somalis back to Mogadishu.

 

"They were denied entry into Uganda and thus had to be taken back to their country of origin. Kenya was only a transit point," read a statement on the government spokesman's Web site. (Additional reporting by Duncan Miriri in Nairobi; Writing by Katie Nguyen; Editing by Giles Elgood)

 

Source

[Castro]

Instead of rejecting every person nominated, may be the opposition should name a candidate of their own for Prime Minister.

 

I can't believe I just suggested working with the TFG.

[Che -Guevara]

They seem to lack any cohorent political strategy. I'm not sure who is running the show in that camp. And militarily, the Asmara group seem to be disconnected from more ardent anti-Ethiopian fighters like Ceyrow, Fuaad, and Turki. And for the love of me, I never understood that they resorted to Indocadde as defense minister.

 

P.S. And for sitting with TFG, just listen Yeey's speech from the other day, the man wants all wadaado eliminated from Somalia.

[Allamagan]

This so-called Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia is really getting a complete joke. They proved to be really no match for the this amharish pundits called, tfg, thus far. They would dismiss anything for no apparent reason! They simply lack of bargaining power.

[Castro]

Che, Yey is a sorry excuse for a human being. It is time plans were made without this geriatric fool.

[Kashafa]

Instead of rejecting every person nominated, may be the opposition should name a candidate of their own for Prime Minister.

Points for the good intentions, but lobbying/seeking the premiership or any other post under the TFG is a fool's errand. Unless there is a candidate out there who is perfectly happy to be clay-putty to be shaped according to Ethiopia's interests.

 

The opposition is rejecting every person nominated because every person nominated is installed directly by Meles Zenawi, no ifs or buts about it. First thing Nur Cade did, before he was even nominated, was fly to Addis Abba so that the Ethiopian overlords would make sure that he was 'with the program'. Having satisfied them that he would see to their interests, they gave the nod to Cabdullahi Amxaar.

[Xoogsade]

If somalis are left to their own to solve problems, they can bring a deal even if the parties are as different as the TFG crooks and the ICU for instance. If they don't come to terms with one another, one group would be eliminated out of the race. Problem is, powerful interests backing thugs always is a hindrance and prolong conflicts.

 

 

A/Y openly wants to fight anyone resembling wadaad. It is hopeless to expect him and his group to accept they are not popular with the masses and no one wants them in their neighbourhood. If they accepted a deal, they would be tolerated untill they disappeared, but they never agree to such a deal because they know they are the first victims of a peaceful vote or a war-vote without foreign involvement.

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

"If somalis are left to their own to solve problems, they can bring a deal even if the parties are as different as the TFG crooks and the ICU for instance." question is. how long will that take? answer is eternity. Can Somalis wait that long?

[Castro]

Originally posted by Kashafa:

The opposition is rejecting every person nominated because every person nominated is

installed directly

by Meles Zenawi, no ifs or buts about it. First thing Nur Cade did, before he was even nominated, was fly to Addis Abba so that the Ethiopian overlords would make sure that he was 'with the program'. Having satisfied them that he would see to their interests, they gave the nod to Cabdullahi Amxaar.

The road to Muqdisho does go through Addis Ababa nowadays but that trip, alone, does not make him a bona fide dabo-dhilif just yet. Unfortunately, it is likely this guy will stick to the script and do what's expected of him: capitulate.

[Juje]

Originally posted by Castro:

Instead of rejecting every person nominated, may be the opposition should name a candidate of their own for Prime Minister.

 

I can't believe I just suggested working with the TFG.

No you did not suggest sxb. But you are probably pissed with the opposition rejecting this man, Nuur Caade. He is not going to bring any changes on his own within the metally demented buffons of TFG. He has to be seen working with the opposition - they (the oppositin) in other words should be slightly constructive towards achieving an end to this catastrophe. There has to some sort of a 'tanasuul' on both sides. Those sponsering the TFG has produced a figure, much to the despise of the the TFG leader and his mentors (Ethiopia), who they think can engage in a dialogue with the other side. Now it is up to the other side whether they want to climb down a bit a make a similar move, rather than sticking to their point 'Ethiopians out'. Ofcourse this is what we want , but how do we do it? Over a year we are at war and lost many , dosplaced many and destructed many. Not mentioning the fact that the 'anti-war' Ethiopia was only done in and the surrounding of 'Bakaraha' - while Ethipian troops are at ease in notably other quarters of Mogadishu - and more than welcomed in most parts of Somalia and if I may state in whole of Somaliland.

Hence my friend you are not suggesting working with the TFG - but you are pissed with the opposition bench who are lost for innitiatives and lack the ability to compromise.

[Emperor]

Who are these Somali opposition groups? What do they stand for and why in Asmara? Who and what do they oppose? How are they qualified to be called as the Somali opposition when infact the same group believes that Somalia is under occupation. Ma anaa waalan mase cadan baa laga heesayaa?

 

I rather think it's a group gathered and used by the most anti-Ethiopia man, Afwereki, who's sole interest is to strengthern his stance... these Somali men in Asmara have no purpose to serve the Somali interest but that of Afewerki and their bellies...

 

Somalia's interest is to make peace with its neighbors, recover from the long civil war and rebuild their country, while Afewerki's is to use Somali as a sheild agaisnt Ethiopia, muu la dagaalo isaga haduu nimanka iska dhicin karo... Melez and Ethiopia of today is avoiding that scenerio, full blown off war between Somalia and Ethiopia, it will be a disaster for them knowing that they know what we are capable of as a Somali United...

 

The last thing we need is to have Mullahs that threaten to conquer Adis Ababa every other day, profound irresponsibility... They are simply Ethiopia oppostion group with the wagon and the fuel of Afrewerki hosted in Asmara.

 

Somalia have a government, and a new PM is just recently named, let us give them a chance and hope that things will change for the better this time round... Expecting anything from the former drug mechract Mullahs in Asmara is expecting the return of a dead man from the graves...

[Thierry.]

Emperor

 

This group opposed Ethiopian occupation long before any of them stepped into Eritrean soil. They opposed Ethiopia when they were based in baidoa and was influencing the TFG. This group which have over the year been joined by many Somali academics and intellectuals in the diaspora was for dialogue, however the one condition they set was to get the Ethiopian forces out of Baidoa so that we as Somalis can have discussions without outside influence.

 

From my analysis the only way Afwerki can benefit from the opposition group is by hoping they weaken Ethiopia and Meles influence over the region.

First of all we do not share borders with Afwerki so the most probable reason why nations go into conflict does not exists between us.

 

Ethiopia on the other hand has a lot to loose by seeing Somalia become strong, both politically and economically.

 

As for the opposition of the new PM, they are stating the obvious, “It is not PM change that will bring peace and stability but rather a policy that serves the greater good of the nation.

 

Personally I would have kept those comments to myself until the man starts the work, because it is actions you judge. Being an optimist I hope he as the strength to tell Meles Generals to pack their bags, but we wait and see.

[Emperor]

^The opposition in Asmara's main purpose is to safeguard Eritrea and serve Afewerki's agenda and not entirely for Somalia, one may argue that we(Somalis) have the same enemy and thus goals as Eritrea which I doubt, Eriteria's main agenda is to have war between Somalia and Ethiopia, on the other hand the Interest of Somalia is to have peace with Ethiopia, hence you can never reconcile those agenda, the theory line of not having a border with Eritrea is irrelevant in this case... Furthermore, the group in Asmara have no power, control no where and serve different purpose, it's the Alshabaab that's throwing the shots... so if one needs to see the real Somali oppostion group, it's the Alshabaab movement that need to be made peace with and bring them on board...

 

The New selected man is only new Premie, neither I nor you can predict the future... We await and see...

[Fabregas]

quote:Melez and Ethiopia of today is avoiding that scenerio, full blown off war between Somalia and Ethiopia, it will be a disaster for them knowing that they know what we are capable of as a Somali United...

 

Classic

[Fabregas]

So the Islamic Courts was created by Eritrea?