Somalian president agrees to peacekeeping deal
Somalia’s president agreed today to a national reconciliation conference in a bid to end 16 years of anarchy in the war-ravaged country, paving the way for the deployment of African peacekeepers.
After intense pressure from the US, EU and UN for all-inclusive political talks, President Abdullahi Yusuf said his government was willing to negotiate despite stiff opposition from within his own administration. The conference would include former political, religious and clan leaders, Yusuf said.
“There is now an opportunity for a breakthrough in political reconciliation in Somalia and for putting in place a genuinely viable government”, he said in a speech to African leaders at the summit.
His call came as an unknown extremist group in Somalia warned it would try to kill any peacekeepers deployed to the country, and amid fears that a delay in the force could see Somalia slide back into civil war.
In a video tape posted on the official website of Somalia’s routed Islamic movement, a hooded gunman read a statement saying any African peacekeepers would be seen as invaders.
Yusuf’s agreement to national reconciliation was a key component to securing financial and logistical support from the US and EU to help in the deployment of an 8,000-strong African Union peacekeeping force. At stake is £10m (€15m) from the EU for a peacekeeping force and £20m (€30m) from the US.
Speaking to journalists at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the talks must include moderate leaders from the ousted Islamic movement that had threatened to take control of Somalia and had confined the interim government to one farming town.
African governments also want reconciliation talks before they begin deploying troops. Yusuf’s government needs the peacekeepers to help maintain order as Ethiopia, which helps prop up his government, begins withdrawing troops after defeating the rival Islamic movement.
“We would like to negotiate with all Somalis who would like peace, but we cannot negotiate with those who are intent on violence and terrorism,” Yusuf said today on the sidelines of the summit attended by 35 African leaders.
“The peacekeeping force from the African Union will come soon,” he added.
On the final day of the two-day African Union summit, African leaders met to try to make up a 4,000 troop shortfall in peacekeepers. So far five nations - Uganda, Nigeria, Malawi, Burundi and Ghana – have pledged troops, the top US diplomat for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, told reporters at the summit. The peacekeeping agreement calls for an initial deployment of about 2,400 troops.
