Fact finding mission optimistic over Somali rival talks in Sudan
July 10, 2006 (NAIROBI) — A joint fact-finding mission, comprising representatives of the European Union, African Union, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and the Arab League has expressed optimism that this week’s talks between Somali rivalgroups in Sudan would be successful.
Addressing a news conference Monday in Nairobi after the conclusion of the five-day visit to the Horn of Africa nation, themission said the transitional federal government (TFG) and the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC) are willing to dialogue to restore stability in Somalia.
“The mission was encouraged by the fact the TFG and the Islamiccourts were willing to continue with the Khartoum dialogue to finda lasting solution to peace in Somalia,” Kenya’s Ambassador to Somalia Mohammed Affey told journalists in Nairobi.
The mission, which was in Somalia from July 5-9 to assess the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping force to the country ripped apart by 15 years of anarchy, said all the stakeholders except those in Mogadishu agreed to the deployment of foreign troops to enable the largely powerless government stamp its authority on the Somali soil.
“The mission noted that almost all stakeholders except those inMogadishu agreed to the involvement of a Peace Support Operation with a clear mandate to assist the TFG and the people of Somalia in order to create the right environment for national reconciliation and post conflict reconstruction,” Affey said.
Last week, the SCIC renewed its objections to a proposed foreign peacekeeping force in the lawless Horn of Africa nation, saying such move would jeopardize attempts to pacify the nation.
Members of the newly created SCIC stressed their position during a meeting with a joint fact-finding mission during the talks in Mogadishu in Mogadishu last Wednesday.
The Islamic courts instead urged the international community tohelp facilitate the planned July 15 talks in Sudan between the court leaders and the transitional government.
Somalia’s United Nations-backed transitional government has called for an African peacekeeping force to stabilize the mostly-lawless country.
The SCIC has taken control of Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia since June 4, when they drove out a group of faction leaders who had controlled the city since 1991 after the fall of the Muhammad Siad Barre administration.
Authorities from the interim government and those of the SCIC met on June 23 in Khartoum agreed to mutually recognize each otherand meet again on July 15 in a bid to bring stability to the war-torn country.
However more than 20 people have been killed on Sunday and Monday in the Somali capital in renewed fightings between SCIC fighters and militiamen loyal to a warlord.
(ST/Xinhua)