Somalia rejects mediation with Islamic Courts

Jan 20, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi has rejected out of hand any mediation between his government and the deposed Islamic Courts Union on his arrival in Sudan for three days of talks.

“There will not be any mediation by any party between the transitional government and the Islamic Courts,” he told reporters Saturday.

Gedi said he was in Khartoum to discuss with President Omar al-Beshir and Sudanese officials “issues related to the situation in Somalia and to strengthening stability in our country.”

State Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Kerti said the Sudanese government, which hosted talks between the two parties in October, “is not maintaining contacts with the Somali Islamic Courts at present.”

The Somali government drove the Islamic Courts Union out of power with the backing of the Ethiopian government on December 28, and has rejected further mediation with the deposed group which is threatening to respond with a campaign of guerrilla warfare.

The United Nations and other international players have warned the Somali government that its chances of success are heavily reliant on a willingness to pursue reconciliation rather than to settle scores.

(AFP)