Ugandan troops 'not peacemakers'

[Jacpher]

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni says Ugandan soldiers being deployed to Somalia, will not disarm militias.

 

Mr Museveni, who bade farewell to 1,700 troops at a ceremony in Jinja, said they will train the Somali army, help the government, but not impose peace.

 

An advance team of African Union (AU) troops reportedly arrived in Baidoa in southern Somalia on Thursday.

 

Some 8,000 AU peacekeepers are to be sent to Somalia to replace Ethiopian troops, who ousted Islamists last year.

 

Somalia enjoyed a six-month lull in the insecurity that has dogged the country for the last 16 years when the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) was in power.

 

But violence has escalated in the past two months.

 

So far only half of the 8,000-strong force promised have been contributed by AU member states.

 

Nigeria has said its 850 soldiers will be deployed from the middle of April in three phases. Other countries that have pledged to send troops are Ghana and Burundi.

 

'Killings continue'

 

"We will not go to Somalia to impose peace on the Somalis, because we shouldn't do that and we can't do it," President Museveni said to his troops.

 

"What we are going to do in Somalia is to empower our Somali brothers to rebuild their state."

 

But Somalia's government spokesman, Hussein Mahmoud Mohammed, has warned that unless AU troops lead the disarmament process the killings will continue.

 

An insurgency in the capital, launched by suspected Islamists, appears to be making its mark, with daily attacks - often targeting Ethiopian forces.

 

More than 10,000 civilians have fled Mogadishu in the past two weeks, the United Nations estimates.

 

Officials have blamed the rise in violence on the high number of weapons available.

 

There have been several protests against the deployment of AU forces in Somalia, even though many Somalis are keen to see the departure of Ethiopian forces as quickly as possible.

 

Islamist insurgents have warned that foreign peacekeepers are not welcome in Somalia.

 

Uganda officials say a tank battalion leaving Jinja in eastern Uganda is expected to head to Somalia's capital via the Kenya port city of Mombasa while infantry units will be flying to Somalia next week.

Source

 

 

[Wisdom_Seeker]

More like empower the Warlord Government and make it into a dictatorship.

[Taako Man]

"We will not go to Somalia to impose peace on the Somalis, because we shouldn't do that and we can't do it," President Museveni said to his troops.

[Taliban]

Museveni is trying to play smart politics. We all know politicians say one thing and mean it differently. Museveni is trying to convey the message that his troops will go to Somalia not to fight the ICU, but to train the TFG to fight the ICU. Now, what kind of absurd logic is that?

[Jacpher]

But Somalia's government spokesman, Hussein Mahmoud Mohammed, has warned that unless AU troops lead the disarmament process the killings will continue.

Taako Man, did you misread this one

[Ebyan]

All major fighting has ended. The TFG isn't fighting the ICU because the ICU no longer exists. The TFG isn't fighting anyone. If you mean the disturbance in Mogadishu, it's only kids high on khat who get paid by clan court remnants to fire martors so these kids can buy more khat. Inshallah this problem will be solved soon.

[Jacpher]

^Only kids high on khat.

 

Why not send toys over to Moqdisho and adeer could return to Villa Somalia safely.

[Wisdom_Seeker]

Kids on khat? If they are that insignificant, why do we need 8,000 African troops? The Mighty Ethiopian and TFG troops could take them out, or can they?

[Taako Man]

Originally posted by Jimcaale:

quote:But Somalia's government spokesman, Hussein Mahmoud Mohammed, has warned that unless AU troops lead the disarmament process the killings will continue.

Taako Man, did you misread this one

No buddy, I read it all. But everybody has a right to an opinion and I fully respect Mr Mohammed.

[Ebyan]

The troops are there to train the Somali forces. Read the newspaper kiddo or has your 'intelligence' failed you?

[Jacpher]

You're not saying that's his personal opinion and not that of the government?

[Wisdom_Seeker]

violet

 

We don’t need 1,700 Ugandans to train the Somali forces. At maximally a 100 trainers will do. But what do you know? I don’t expect much from a blind-sheep.

 

We are not in a position of be a national army, we need to build national trust!

 

I have overestimate your aptitude, I have to lower the bar now

[Xargaga]

Usually the Peace keeping forces Operates Under UN Statues. The UN has the power to decide which charpter under the UN Peace keeping mission the Troops can operate. I beleve that the present Mission would be opearating Under Chapter "7" this allows the troops to Use force if necessary to reach their goals. As you all know the Goal is to force the somali ppl to accept the stooge government willing or not.which i beleive is a big gamble on the path of the international community.Now its upon Somalis to choose either to Accept and submitt to the stooge government for the time being.Or Fight and sacrifice lives, which would be difficult without unity among somalis, regardless,their geographic and political differences. Otherwise my opinion is that shear violence is not the way out "horaa looyiri far keliya fool madhaqdo"

[Taako Man]

Originally posted by mystic:

We are not in a position of be a national army, we need to build national

trust!

Come April 16 inshallah, national trust from 3000 somali members from all over Somalia will help do that.

[Wisdom_Seeker]

Originally posted by Taako Man:

quote:Originally posted by mystic:

We are not in a position of be a national army, we need to build national

trust!

Come April 16 inshallah, national trust from 3000 somali members from all over Somalia will help do that.

We have just started March and we have to wait till mid April to start reconciliation.

 

It seems like the TFG is taking the time to enjoy the chaos and violence they created.

 

It will be a circus show….