Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mogadishu (Agenzia Fides)- “This is a new chapter in Somalia’s chaos which will never end unless the international community makes more effort and the Somalis put aside the clan mentality once and for all” Bishop Giorgio Bertin of Djibouti also apostolic administrator of Mogadishu, told Fides as Ethiopian soldiers and interim government troops advance towards Mogadishu. The Islamic Courts until now in charge of the capital, are retreating as government and Ethiopian troops advance.
“These latest events are the conclusion of a process started 7-8 months ago. The various parties continued to meet for exhausting summits without ever reaching an agreement. But in the meantime the language became more threatening” said Bishop Bertin. “Instead of commitment for the common good, Party logic prevailed. Each party, including international community representatives called to encourage negotiations, gave priority to proper interests rather than the good of the Somali people who have a right to peace and development after 16 years of chaos and civil war”.
“This logic” the Bishop continued “is of course favoured by Somali society’s clan structure which means clan solidarity prevails over national interests, but it belongs also to foreign actors who intervene in the country, and can be seen even in some humanitarian activity conditioned by a desire to obtain funds for this or that project, rather than a consistent aid programme for the whole population”.
“The direct intervention of foreign troops complicates an already confused situation and threatens to transform Somalia into a battle field for interests totally foreign to the nation” said Bishop Bertin. “This situation can be overcome only if the nation’s leaders put aside party interests and decide to work together to plan the future of the country and if the international community gives them full support”.
“The only alternative is chaos” the Bishop said. “I hope the interim government will avoid revenge and not fall back into the logic of the clan. This would be a step in the right direction. It should be remembered that it was because they guaranteed a minimum degree of security in the areas under their control that the Islamic Courts won the people’s support. But if we see the return of the warlords and criminals, forever fighting, and the consequent collapse of security, the new leaders will find it difficult to win the consensus of the people”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 28/12/2006 righe 35 parole 437)
