AFRICA/SOMALIA - I call on Somali leaders to have a sense of responsibility with regard to the suffering of their people” says Catholic Bishop Apostolic administrator of Mogadishu where furious fighting has resumed

Thursday, 29 March 2007

Mogadishu (Agenzia Fides)-“The situation is very sad because no one seems to want dialogue or peace. The players in this crisis have adopted a maximalist attitude which has plunged Somalia into chaos” says Bishop Giorgio Bertin the Catholic Bishop of Gibuti and apostolic administrator for Mogadishu, where fighting has resumed between Ethiopian troops and government troops on the one hand and on the other militia of clans which refuse to recognise the national transition government .
“Those who suffer are the people and all they want is peace” the Bishop told Fides. “I would call Somalia’s political leaders to have a sense of responsibility with regard to their people. Especially the traditional chiefs of the Hawaiye clan, the largest one in Mogadishu. It is incredible to see the members of this clan who fought each other for months united to fight enemies, foreign the Ethiopians, and domestic President Yusuf regarded only as a member of the rival Darod clan not as the country’s internationally recognised President. If they want help from the international community they must give a little and allow the recognised institutions restore some order in the country”.
“However clan logic cannot explain such violence which is clearly influenced by radical Islamism and major economic interests of criminal organisations which have nothing to do with politics or religion but want to create more chaos in order to continue their illegal business undisturbed” said Bishop Bertin.
The fighting which resumed this morning violates the cease fire agreement signed last week by Hawaiye clan elders and Ethiopian army commanders. The clashes are particularly violent with Ethiopian helicopter gunships attacking one of the Islamic strongholds. These means have not been used in the capital since the UN backed multinational intervention in the 1990s. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 29/3/2007 righe 31 parole 360)


Share: