AFRICA/SOMALIA - War Lords want to condition installation of new Somali government

Wednesday, 1 June 2005

Mogadishu (Fides Service)- The government of Somalia says it will return from exile despite violence in recent days in the south western town of Baidoa chosen as the temporary headquarters of the new executive. The news came from the government spokesman in Kenya where the government is presently.
Fighting started after a local warlord launched an attack on Baidoa on May 27. Pro-government troops tried to take back the town and in the fighting at least 15 people were killed and 20 wounded. “The warlord who led the attack is head of a sub-clan which controls Baidoa” local sources told Fides. “The sub-clan is connected with the main clan which controls Mogadishu and which wants the Somali government to be installed in the capital”.
“The violence was a clear message to the government: “you must come to an agreement with us if you want to install yourselves in Somali territory” the sources told Fides.
The government is led by Abdullahi Yusuf elected President on 10 October 2004 in Nairobi Kenya by the interim parliament (see Fides 12 October 2004).
In early May the interim parliament approved the government’s decision to install new institutions temporarily in two provincial towns Jowhar 90 km north of Mogadishu and Baidoa 250 km south of the capital because Mogadishu is still considered insecure. The decision was rejected by a group of members of parliament which includes the warlords who control the capital. They want the executive in Mogadishu where they can condition its activity.
Since January 1991 when former dictator Siad Barre was overthrown and the state of Somalia collapsed the country has lived in a situation of anarchy. Armed militia of all the different clans and sub-clans divided the territory among themselves with force.
Today Somalia is divided in at least 3 parts. In the North the Somaliland Republic which declared its independence 10 years ago but is not recognised by the international community. However in this area there is a degree of stability especially in the central western areas of the territory. Somaliland was not present at the signing of the Agreement in Nairobi. In the north east relative security in the last 3 or 4 years led to the founding of Puntland, a local administration not interested in independence. In fact representatives of Puntland signed the Nairobi Agreement and this means the region is once again part of Somalia. The central-southern region, the most densely populated and potentially the richest area, has not succeeded in giving itself a stable administration. After several failures the executive led by Yusuf is trying to unite the country with the support of the international community which has promised a peace force comprising African soldier to render the situation more stable . (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 1/6/2005 righe 37 parole 473)


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