More Somalis support foreign efforts, says poll

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

By David Ochami and Peter Opiyo

 

Somalis are increasingly supporting foreign intervention to restore stability in the lawless country.

 

According to a UN sponsored opinion poll, just released, perception of foreigners and foreign intervention among residents of Mogadishu, has improved in the last two years.

 

But more than half of the residents of Mogadishu still believe some foreign nations have intervened in Somalia out of self- interest.

 

When the UN conducted a survey in 2010 in Mogadishu, 18 per cent of respondents reported that African peacekeepers had come to Somalia to harm the Somalis but that number has fallen to one per cent this year.

 

The poll results were released as Kenya prepares to join UN supported African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom).

 

Conducted in the Somalia capital in December and January only six per cent of those interviewed believe Amisom troops are deployed for their own interest, while two per cent believe the forces are out to "destroy Somalia" with just one per cent accusing the foreign forces of being there to "harm" the Somali people.

 

The survey, done by an independent company, ORB and commissioned by AU and UN, shows 77 per cent of the 1,151 residents polled described the TFG and Amisom as "very effective" in stabilising the country and encouraging reconciliation compared to 61 and 65 per cent from the two previous polls.

 

Kenya and four other regional states have been in Somalia since 2007 to fight the radical Al Shabaab.

 

Perceptions of foreign intervention for the stated period indicate overwhelming support for the Amisom and the UN with majority of those polled between January 2010 and early 2012 describing the two missions as friendly.

 

Asked to respond to the question would you describe AU-UN and the international community as friend or foe 95 per cent described international actors in Somalia as friendly, compared to 83 per cent and 84 per cent who described the international community as friendly in January and November 2010 respectively.

 

In the new poll 92 per cent described the AU and UN as friendly, compared to 72 and 75 per cent who thought so in January and November.Some 51 per cent of Mogadishu residents "strongly agree" that some countries involved in Somalia affairs are doing that out "their own interest rather than for the interest of the Somalis."

 

And 19 per cent said they agree that the foreign nations are pursuing personal interest.

 

In November 2010 68 per cent of those polled said they strongly agreed to suggestions that foreign nations are pursuing their own interests in Somalia while 16 per cent replied they agree that foreign intervention is not motivated by sympathy for ordinary Somalis.