Sudan launches mediation to reconcile Somali factions
April 1, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — A Somali Islamist opposition leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys arrived to Khartoum where Sudanese government is brokering mediation to reconcile him with the Somali government and to end his exile in Eritrea.
Sheikh Aweys, who chairs the Asmara-based Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, is the former chairman of the Islamic Courts Union that ruled Somalia’s capital in 2006 until being ousted by Ethiopian troops. He was working with his former ally turned President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
Khartoum is attempting to use its good relations with Somali hardliner groups to convince them to end their war againt the newly formed national unity government.
Somali media said Aweys was in Khartoum and held talks on Tuesday with two senior Sudanese officials. They said he was expected to fly to the Somali capital later to offer his support to the new government.
The Somali president during his recent visit to Sudan last month the efforts exerted by the Sudanese president to “reunite the Somali factions and his continuing quest to bring peace and stability in the region.”
A source close to the opposition leader told Reuters Aweys was expected to arrive to the Somali capital within two weeks. Also a senior Somali source in Sudan confirmed Aweys was in the country, and said it was possible Ahmed might travel to Khartoum to meet him there.
In a statement made to Somali media, Aweys admitted recently that efforts to reconcile him with the government are currently taking place without indicting if he backs President Ahmed or not.
Aweys is on the U.S. list of foreign terrorists. Some western experts dismiss the accusation and say Aweys is more moderate than the President Ahmed.
(ST)
Justin Chicago opiny
Sudan launches mediation to reconcile Somali factions
You see !! if you can mediate for reconciliation with the Somali rebels why not those rebels in your own country.To me
in person I think it is we to blame for every thing.We just let
the problems to grow to let in foreigners to get involved in our internal problems. If we can solve our own problem before we get others to help us solve it the better.God or Allah helps those who help themselves. I want us to pray together to help us solve our problems before we could invite others to come to our help.Most important distribution of wealth across the country that is where things always gone wrong for many years work on that and I believe you will see a lot of progress in security circle. Act now as that has been the problem unequal development across the country and resort to democractic change and not stick to power as if there are no people in sudan with sights. All sudanese can see clearly like any other sudanese.