Somali opposition leader slams UN envoy for taking sides
May 14, 2009 (MOGADISHU) – Somali opposition leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys accused the UN special envoy to Somalia of taking sides in the conflict and rejected negotiations with the UN-recognized government until African Union forces leave.
The UN envoy, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, on Wednesday had accused the Islamist leader of seeking to topple the recently formed national unity government in the country. United Nations Security Council members the same day voiced serious concern at such persistent attempts by hard-line Islamist forces.
Aweys, an influential Islamist figure, described the conflict with the transitional administration as “a political war.” The 62-year-old cleric is from the Ayr wing of the Habr Gedir, a major sub-clan of the Hawiye, who bitterly opposed the 1992-1993 operations conducted by the international force known as UNOSOM.
In an interview with Reuters news agency, he restated his position that he would not enter into talks with the government until African Union peacekeepers leave. Islamist insurgents and other militias have joined against foreign troops since the US-backed Ethiopian invasion in 2006.
“The troops who came to keep Muslim leaders away from the leadership have to leave the country. (Then) we are granting every Somali that there will be no fighting. We will sit together and solve everything through dialogue,” he told Reuters.
He voiced particular disdain for the UN envoy: “It is a surprise to see Ould-Abdallah destroying Somalia when he, as a Muslim, has an obligation of being honest of what he has to do for Somalis.”
“He consistently defends the government policies as if he is the president of this country, and he is not playing his role of engaging every side of the conflict.”
Aweys has headed different Islamist groups including the Islamic Courts Union that controlled Mogadishu and much of the south in 2006 before disintegrating during the Ethiopian invasion.
But speaking with Reuters he did not speak of the war in predominantly religious terms: “This war is between Somalis who tasted the sweetness of being free and stability and aides of foreign enemies against their interest.”
Clashes since the weekend, very heavy in Mogadishu, have killed at least 139 people and wounded more than 400 others.
(ST)