Somalia’s PM says mininters’ resignations won’t affect govt
July 28, 2006 (MOGADISHU) — Somalia’s transitional prime minister, Mohammed Ali Gedi, said Friday the resignation of 18 members of the 102-member Cabinet wouldn’t affect the government.
The ministers said Thursday that their government has failed to bring peace to Somalia as it emerges from 15 years of anarchy. The leadership has no power outside of Baidoa.
“We have seen that the government cannot carry out national reconciliation and development,” said a letter of resignation issued by about 20 lawmakers, who include the ministers for domestic cooperation and for planning and international relations.
A motion of no-confidence in Gedi had already been issued and will be debated in parliament on Saturday, the lawmakers said.
Friday, Gedi said he would defend himself before parliament and accused the former Cabinet ministers of trying to bring down his government.
“The resignation of these ministers will not effect the government,” he said. “All of their accusations are baseless.”
The lawmakers also said they were opposed to troops from neighboring Ethiopia who were sent here to protect the government from the Supreme Islamic Courts Council’s militia, which has seized much of southern Somalia.
Meanwhile, a second large cargo plane delivered tons of unidentified equipment Friday to the Islamist militia that controls Somalia’s capital.
A similar aircraft delivered goods Wednesday, and officials from the largely powerless transitional government alleged that Eritrea was sending arms to the Islamists.
Islamic courts officials and Eritrea both denied the accusation.
Somalia has been without an effective central government since 1991 when dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted and warlords turned on each other, carving much of the country into armed camps ruled by violence and clan law.
The transitional government was established nearly two years ago with the support of the U.N., but it has been wracked by infighting. The leadership also includes some of the widely despised warlords linked to the violence of the past.
The relationship between the Islamist militia and the official government has been deteriorating steadily in recent weeks, despite plans for peace talks. Last week, the militia got within striking distance of Baidoa. Witnesses reported seeing troops from Ethiopia cross the border to protect the fragile administration.
Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a bloody border war from 1998-2000, and have since backed rebel groups to destabilize each other. Somalia could become a new front in their conflict.
(ST)