Ethiopian PM, Sudanese defence minister discuss Somalia
Dec 15, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Sudanese minister of defence discussed the Somali crisis today with the Ethiopian Prime Minister. The Sudanese minister renewed Sudan’s support to the transitional Somali government.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the visiting Sudanese minister of Defence, Maj-Gen. Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein dwelt Friday on the mounting tension between Ethiopia and the Somali Islamist militia.
Hussein said that Sudan has identical stance with Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) concerning the security of the region.
The regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, which brokered the transitional government’s installation in 2004, have long been pushing for regional peacekeepers to support it.
“We do support the Somali government, interim government, and we do all our efforts that this government should be supported, and we are trying to gather all the Somali groups so that they can come and support the government.”
The Sudanese president on Friday 8 December rejected the deployment of foreign troops in Somalia. He further considered plots against the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) as part of the attack against Islam and Islamic countries in the region.
This statement was perceived by Addis Ababa as encouragement for the Somali Islamist to defy the Ethiopian government and the Somali government. The Somali Islamic courts reject the deployment of any regional or international troops.
While Addis Ababa denies the presence of Ethiopian troops in Somalia, the Islamic courts claim that there are some thousands of Ethiopian troops in their country. They request the withdrawal of these troops before any talks with Ethiopia.
Eritrea which opposes the deployment of foreign troops in Somalia called for an emergency meeting of the IGAD to discuss the situation in Somalia, where it and arch-foe Ethiopia have been accused of waging a proxy war, officials said Thursday.
IGAD is deeply split over the peacekeepers with Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and the Somali government in favour and Djibouti, Eritrea and Sudan opposed.
The Islamists have declared holy war on Ethiopian troops now in Somalia protecting the government and have vowed the same against any foreign soldiers, including peacekeepers, sent into the country.
(ST)