UN ratifies PK. lifts arms embargo- Somalia government celebrates, Courts courts mo

[General Duke]

UN ratifies peacekeepers for Somalia, lifts arms embargo- Somalia government celebrates, Islamists mourn

Posted to the MOL December 9, 2006, 7:10 pm

 

 

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- United Nations Security Council on Wednesday approved regional peacekeepers for Somalia to protect the Transitional Federal Institutions threatened by a Militant group who recently took over most of Southern Somalia. - The union of the Islamic Courts.

 

The resolution authorizes a seven-nation regional group, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the African Union to establish a protection force in Somalia for six months. It allows troops from neighboring countries to join the peacekeeping force, but excludes nations thought to have a stake in the outcome: Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya.

The motion also ratified a partial lift of the arms embargo imposed on the nation in 1992 to allow peacekeepers to take their arms and military facilities.

The transitional federal government (TFG) warmly welcomed the decision saying it would help in restoring peace.

 

“The security council’s decision was meant to restore peace and protect the government,” Somalia’s minister of Information Said.

In contrast, the Islamic Courts said the decision was unjust and unacceptable, vowing to fight with any foreign soldier on Somalia Soil. The body’s defense secretary, Yusuf Siyad Indha’ade said last week “if the arms embargo was lifted it will help us invite foreign Islamic Militants to join us and fight against our enemy,”

Since he was elected in October 2004, Somalia’s President Abdulahi Yusuf was urging for foreign interference to disarm the armed Militias and protect his transitional government.

 

The African union and the Intergovernmental authority on development- IGAD, composed of seven African nations expressed their desire to send peace keepers to Somalia if the arms embargo was removed. The plan was hindered after some governments and western powers seemed reluctant for supporting the lift fearing it would further destabilize the already precarious nation.

But after powerful and hard-line Islamists seized control of southern Somalia, it seemed necessary to approve of such plan as Somalia’s Government was in danger after facing verbal and mechanical threats from the UIC.

Recently, Suicide bombers targeted the TFG’s temporary seat, Baidabo, which of its latest occurred at government checkpoint outside of Baidabo last week. Somalia’s septuagenarian President Abdulahi Yusuf escaped from such suicide bombing in which his brother and some of his body guards were killed. The former minister of constitution and federal affairs was assassinated in Baidabo when leaving mosque after Friday prayer.

 

Somalia’s prime minister, Ali Mohamed Gedi blamed the Islamists for being behind all these incidents. Addressing Somali community here in Addis Ababa on Monday, PM Gedi accused the Islamists for not having passion for peace and stability, harboring internationally wanted terrorists, emphasizing that war is inevitable.

“What we want to fight with are foreigners who want Somalia to be a save haven for Terrorists, after they were expelled from their own country” PM Gedi said. “But the most surprising is that some Somalis are applying to die with these foreigners,” Gedi added referring to the Islamic courts.

 

 

By Faysal Gabanow

The Sub-Saharan Informer - December 8, 2006