Somali MPs accuse Ethiopia of meddling

NAIROBI, Dec 28, 2004 (The People) — The Ethiopian government has been accused of meddling in the affairs of the emerging new Somali state. political leaders now want the international community to put trade embargoes against the former socialist state for allegedly poking its nose into the affairs of a sovereign state.

“If the international community is hosted about its quest for peace and stability in Somali then Ethiopia must be condemned for its incessant destabilizing behaviour,” they said.

Former member of parliament Farah Maalim and a host of Somali leaders claimed that Ethiopia was behind the arms being used by warlords.

“Ethiopia must be restrained with appropriate sanctions from interfering in the affairs of this new state.”

Maalim further alleged that Ethiopian intelligence officers led by one Yemane have been sneaking into the country to derail efforts by the new Somali government.

The Somali MPs led by Abdirrazaq Muhammad Umar now want the internal security minister, Dr Chris Murungaru, to state Kenya’s stand on this issue. Ethiopia has been at loggerheads with previous Somali administrations over border issues, with the latter accusing the former of sponsoring dissent groups.

A spokesman of President Abdullahi Ahmad Yusuf, however, declined to comment on the matter but said his boss was following it with utmost concern. Said he:

“That is a serious matter and we need to employ diplomacy when addressing it, but in reality the president is well aware of the claims.”

A source close to the Somali president, however, disclosed that the newly-appointed premier, Prof Ali Muhammad Gedi, would convene a press conference this week aimed at addressing the issue.