Somalia news from the Ethiopian and Sudanese Media

[Somali_Friend]

This is how Aiga Forum have it on front page:

 

Update on Somalia

 

Mogadishu under control, UIC extreme leaders in hiding. (Aigaforum Dec 28,2006):- Mogadishu residents welcomed TFG forces and UIC leaders gone in to hiding.

Less than a week the fate of the extreme UIC elements and the international terrorists as well as mercenaries have gone from bad to worst. While Mogadishu residents welcome transitional government forces and its political leaders they have shun away UIC leaders who resigned officially yesterday. Sources tell us many of the UIC controlled building are now controlled by citizens and TFG forces. The Ramadan Hotel which used to be controlled by UIC and many other UIC buildings have been looted. The lootings some media have reported in Mogadishu is in fact the looting of UIC headquarters and buildings.

 

Most of the UIC foot soldiers are now disarmed and have asked the public to forgive them. However residents are reported to be weary and are watching them with scrutiny.

 

Mean time PM Meles held a briefing to private and international media in Addis. He told reporters the Ethiopian defense forces have completed over 75% of their mission.

[Somali_Friend]

Moving Along: What needs to be done in Somalia

 

 

 

(Aigaforum Dec 27, 2006)

 

 

 

We thank the Somalis for the good will they have shown towards our defense forces who cross the international boundary line in hot pursuit of international terrorist and Shaiby(Eritrean govt soldiers) hiding behind women skirts. The Ethiopian forces were forced to start the counter offensive after exhaustive discussion with the UIC leadership who at the end chose to continue harboring these terrorist instead of making peace. Today Ethiopian forces along with TFG forces have encircled Mogadishu the bastion of these terrorists.

 

 

 

Mogadishu home to two million people needs to be spared. We ask all sides to spare this beautiful city. If thenewsof the resignation of the extreme leaders is true, the transitional government must allow negotiation to start immediately. The UIC must help in apprehending all foreign mercenaries and terrorist cells that it knows. The Ethiopian forces must leave no stone unturned to evict terrorist and Shaibya foot soldiers from Mogadishu and else where. Ethiopia can not keep bleeding. A final closure is a must and as such all Somali factions must sign on the dotted line not to allow enemies of Ethiopia in their soil.

 

 

 

Many Ethiopians with good intention think the problem child for the horn is Isayas Afeworki regime in Eritrea. We can not agree more. But we also think Ethiopia can ill afford another Somalia on its northern border. Until Eritreans realize their country is going down with this dictator there is noting Ethiopia can do. Absent of Isayas Afeworki, Eritrea is surely to be another Somalia and Asmara another Mogadishu. So for better or worst, short of Isayas Afeworki starting another war forcing Ethiopia to engage him and remove him from power, Eritrea under Isayas Afeworki may be a better choice to have at the moment.

 

 

 

We think the current turn of event in Somalia will go a long way in shaping the future of the Horn of Africa. In a poor third world neighbor hood, unless diplomacy is used with show of force and democracy under a determined and progressive government, the result is a zero sum game. Ethiopia, unfortunately, has been clapping in one hand for too long to bring peace in the horn. The Ethiopian government seems to have realized what ever policy it was using for Eritrea and Somalia it was not working. It is not too late also to tell the other neighboring countries that Ethiopia can not keep bleeding by insurgents and terrorists based in their countries. The Ethiopia government should tell them in no uncertain term to guard their borders from being used as conduit by shaibya sponsored terrorists.Enough we say enough!

[Somali_Friend]

Somali State Cabinet expresses happiness over victory of defense forces

Jijjiga, December 28, 2006 (WIC) - The cabinet of the Somali State expressed its happiness today over the swift victory of the national defense forces over the fundamentalists.

 

In its session here this late afternoon, the cabinet said the defeat of the terrorists drawn from various countries and led by Shaebiya has made the state government and its inhabitants proud of the defense forces.

 

The cabinet also indicated that the defeat of the terrorists that repeatedly turned down the peace initiative of the country before they could inflict damages on the country is a triumph not only to Ethiopia but also to the rest of the nations in the region.

 

The victory above all ensures peace and stability in the state which would have been the prime victim of the provocative acts of the terrorists,according to cabinet.

 

Chief Administrator of the state,Abdulahi Hassen,said on the occasion the state is relieved as the defense forces have routed out the terrorists and ant-peace forces which have been hampering development works in the state for the past 15 years.

 

The Chief Administrator also expressed his conviction that the internationally recognized transitional government of Somalia would create a good neighborly relations with Ethiopia.

[Somali_Friend]

The worst is over

Ambassador of Somalia to Ethiopia Mr. AbdiKarim Farah statement:

http://www.waltainfo.com/Audiovideo/Dec/Somalia_Amb.asx

[Somali_Friend]

Press Briefing on Somalia: Meles (English, Dec. 28, 2006)

http://www.waltainfo.com/ETV/Dec/meles_eng.asx

[Somali_Friend]

Sudan Expresses Regret over Developments of Incidents in Somalia

 

Khartoum (Sudanvisiondaily) -- The government of Sudan has expressed deep regret over the developments of incidents in Somalia to this dangerous level which threatens sisterly Somalia. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sunday Sudan called on all warring parties to resort to wisdom and self-restraint and for immediate cease-fire and urged the Somali parties to return to the negotiating table. The statement added that Sudan, in its capacity as chairman of the current session of the Arab League Summit, has remained sponsoring the Somali peace talks, where it succeeded in coordination with the Arab League to organize in Khartoum direct talks for all parties to the conflict that realized concrete progress. The statement pointed out that the President of the Republic and Chairman of the Arab Summit has maintained continuous contacts with all political forces in the Somali arena to end war and resume the negotiations. The statement expressed Sudan's hope for immediate stop of fighting and return to the negotiating table, which is the sole means for ending the conflict and reaching a durable solution that would realize the aspired stability for sister Somalia.