May 9, 2008
Al-Shabab,
the terrorist group in Somalia, is using the Amnesty
International in blackmailing Ethiopian Army and
undermining the country’s dedication in Somalia.
The terrorist group h
as
managed to influence the
organization to release fabricated allegations on behalf
of them. The festering question that might ring in
everyone’s mind is ‘why terrorist groups chose Amnesty
International for such irresponsible purposes?’
The Al-Qaida backed terrorist group in Somalia, Al-Shabab, is using the reputable international organization as an instrument not only to cover its terrorist actions in various parts of the country but also to undermine Ethiopia’s efforts towards bringing peace and stability in the region. Besides, the terrorist groups might need to create confusion among the Somali, the Ethiopians and the International Community about Ethiopia’s agenda in Somalia.
The fabricated stories of Amnesty International could, by no means, put a damper on the efforts made by Ethiopia and the TFG of Somalia. It neither could confuse the international society as Ethiopia’s position in Somalia is crystal clear to all Somali peace partners. However, it is so decayed that the reputable Amnesty International is setting a foot wrong instead of accomplishing its responsibility of presenting situations as they are with no bias to any party. The world in general and the Somali people in particular could learn from the formed stories that Amnesty International is putting its boot in the wrong foot for reasons that might be discovered soon.
His Excellency Ambassador Abdikarim Farah, Somali Ambassador in South Africa, gave an exclusive interview to WIC in Addis Ababa while he is in transit. He underlined that reports made by Amnesty International are baseless and incredible. He also told WIC that the situation in Somalia is progressing from time to time as Ethiopia is doing its level best in helping the TFG of Somalia and the Somali people.
WIC: - Your Excellency Ambassador Abdikarim Farah, Somali Ambassador in South Africa, First of all, I, on behalf of WIC, would like to appreciate your willingness for the interview. And then let’s start with the current status in Somalia. Could you give us an overview about current status of peace and stability in Somalia?
Ambassador Abdikarim: - Thank you very much WIC for visiting me here in the Hotel I stay in Addis while I am in transit. The situation in Somalia is known that we are making a progress from time to time. As you might know, there are lots of obstacles on the TFG process. One of them was the coming of new Prime Minister. This is obviously a new leadership to the TFG. The new Prime Minister has his own views, implementations and ways of seeing things. And probably that might take sometime to adjust for a new person to come to a leadership. There are also other changes like the Transitional National Charter. It was changed a bit. Previously, it didn’t allow the Council of Ministers to appoint people from outside the parliament. Now, this is improved and there are nine non-parliamentarian ministers who came into the TFG.
Although those kinds of things made a new situation to the TFG, there is still progress in enhancing the peace and stability in Somalia. Of course, there are also some setbacks that we can’t completely say that there is nothing to be done onwards. There are lots of things which we always need to rectify and improve. If we talk about the security in the country, it is improving now much better than what it was before. For example, there is no problem in the whole Somalia. It is quiet and calm. Of course, there are somehow some security issues in Mogadishu which need to be resolved. The TFG, Ethiopia, the International Community, the Africa Union and other peace loving countries are taking appropriate measures so that those rarely seen problems could be resolved.
WIC: - What about the Humanitarian situations in Somalia? Do the reports about displacement and other social problems in the country have bases?
Ambassador Abdikarim:- Well, the displacement of people in Somalia is not just started this year or last year. It has been there for the last seventeen years. If I exactly remember the first displacement in the country took place in 1991. That was the time when the government of Siad Bare was ousted. Since 1991 up to this time, there are always displaced people and refugees. There are also other new situations coming to Somalia.
I think, the humanitarian problem is not only due to the failure of the Somali people but also that of the International community. I should say that because whenever a new situation comes to Somalia, it presents new opportunity as well. That new opportunity has never been capitalized by the international community. So, obviously, we can’t ignore or deny that there are displacements and there are people living outside of their country and outside their houses. We are completely saying that it is the failure of the international community. Obviously, they should have intervened in the right time and that has never happened. However, we are still requesting the international community to assist those people who are displaced.
WIC: - Your Excellency Ambassador Abdikarim Farah, right after two or three months of the fighting between the ICU and the Ethiopian backed TFG, both Somalia and its ally Ethiopia announced that they winded up the war. However, there are still reports about war in Somalia. Could you comment on this issue?
Ambassador Abdikarim: - The situation in Somalia is unique when you compare it with situations in other countries. Yes, it was completed. As we can see, the ICU is no long holding any part of Mogadishu or anywhere in the country. In that sense, your statement is quite right. However, there is some resistance within the mandate of the Transitional Federal Government. You know, the Ethiopian troops and the African Union forces are not there to make direct interventions in clashes between or among Somali clans. Certain clans are fighting to one another for position without necessarily being themselves as the Islamic Union Courts. Of course, this is the work of the TFG that should be done and I’m sure now the Transitional Federal Government is trying level best to reach these people and resolve the resistance. The war reporting, nowadays, is not like that of the war which took place at the end of 1996 when the Ethiopian troops are fought with ICU in Mogadishu. That kind of resistance is not there now.
WIC: - If the African troops in Somalia don’t directly participate in solving problems among clans, what are they doing there?
Ambassador Abdikarim: - Well, the situation of Somalia is a very complicated. The African Union Forces mandated to be there were about nine battalions to deploy in different phases. The first phase incorporated about 3000, whereas, the second and the third phases are supposed to be 6000 and 4000 respectively.
The Ethiopian troops entered Somalia with the invitation of the TFG at the end of 1996, were ready to withdraw right after two months. Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a statement that as Ethiopian force has accomplished its mission it determined to withdraw from Somalia. However, that time there was African union meeting in Addis Ababa. So, there was a call from African Union saying that the Ethiopian Troops should not withdraw that time. The request was saying that until the African Union troop’s entered Somalia, the Ethiopian troops should stay inside Mogadishu. The Ethiopia government and people accepted that and they are there to wait until the remaining African troops to come.
To come to your question, the African Union troops in Mogadishu are very limited. The demanded African Union Forces are not coming so far. So, we are requesting the African Union and the countries that are contributing troops to Somalia to speed up the sending of the remaining troops to Mogadishu so that Ethiopian troops should complete their withdrawal from the country. There is also another request that the TFG and AU made that the mission to be taken over by the UN.
WIC: - Your Excellency Ambassador Abdikarim Farah, let’s move on to the recent reports of Amnesty International. The organization has accused Ethiopian Army of killing civilians in Somalia. Ethiopia, on its behalf, has severely condemned such fabricated and baseless reports. Do you have any comment on this allegation?
Ambassador Abdikarim:- First of all, the Ethiopian troops in collaboration with the TFG are there and wanted to bring law and order into Somalia. Ethiopians understand that they could be benefited if there is peace in Somalia, in the region and in the world. Therefore, the Ethiopian troops and the TFG forces don’t instigate any war in Somalia. They are making tremendous efforts to foster the revival of peace and order in the country. That report is obviously ridiculous and baseless. The parts that hit and run, shelling the people indiscriminately and forcing the people outside of their country and houses should shoulder the responsibility. Those who are committing genocide and creating instability in the country should be condemned and brought to justice. However, these accusations on Ethiopian Army have no bases at all. But you know, the International community, African Union, UN and all our peace partners know that the difficult circumstances we are working in and the difficult environment we are in and so I’m sure that they understand all the allegations are just baseless and fabricated.
WIC: - Don’t you think such kinds of terrorist biased reports from Amnesty International put a damper in efforts to bring peace and stability in Somalia.
Ambassador Abdikarim:- No, I don’t think so. We cannot deny that there are obstacles as the situation in Somalia is very dynamic and complicated. However, there is a government in Somalia, obviously recognized by the International Community. There is a parliament, there is a council of Ministers actually working in Somalia. These kinds of institutions were not there for the last seventeen years. Obviously, we are not saying that we the TFG is perfect. But there are institutions and those institutions are working to conduct an election which could give anybody a chance to participate in the country’s politics. However, there are people who are abusing this process whatever the reason behind might be.
WIC: - Recently, you gave an interview to Voice of America Somali service. In that interview you have commented on the immediate withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia. Do you have any comment on that?
Ambassador Abdikarim:- Obviously, I always say that Ethiopian troops will withdraw from Ethiopia. However, those of Voice of America raised a mixed informational that sometimes the media can highjack your opinion. Concerning the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Somalia, I always have stressed on my view that Ethiopians will withdraw from Somalia. This is the bottom line because other people are saying Ethiopians are occupying forces. I want to underlie that they are not occupying forces. I believe that they will withdraw even tomorrow if the situation permits.
My interview with the Voice of America was that Ethiopians came and stayed in Somalia with the invitation of the TFG to do a very specific job that is to root out the ICU. Everyone has to bear in mind that it was only Ethiopia on which war is waged by the ICU. So, even though the request is made they are also motivated by the aggressiveness of ICU. However, immediately after they have winded up their agenda, they began withdrawal from Somalia. When I was interviewed by VOA I said in my understanding that Ethiopian troops could have come out long time ago from Somalia. The only reason for their staying there is the delay of the African Peace Keeping force. The demanded force has never come to Somalia yet. So, that problem is the only reason for Ethiopia to stay in Somalia.
Had the African Union come to Somalia as requested, Ethiopia could have withdrew long time ago. Though some people have mixed views, I understand that Ethiopia has no other interest to stay in Somalia other than helping the Somali people via helping the TFG institutions until the African Union Peace Keeping come to Somalia. The Ethiopians are making a wise and very responsible action in Somalia now.
WIC: - There are reports about a new peace talk to be held in Djibouti, do you have any comment on that?
Ambassador Abdikarim: - Well, any peace initiative, any peace talk and negotiation is acceptable if it contributes anything to Somalia. We usually encourage all Somalis to come together and talk so as to resolve problems in the country. But in any peace initiation there are prerequisites. What we want now is that there shouldn’t be any kind question before the peace talk and its implementation.
WIC:- Although the solution for the problems of Somalia is in the hands of Somalis, how do you evaluate the contribution of AU, IGAD, AL, UN and the international community as a whole in bringing peace and stability in Somalia with comparison to measures taken in other countries?
Ambassador Abdikarim: - Well, the International community is not on the same side as the Somali issue is concerned. That is the problem because every country, I think, has some different interests. And I should say that there is lack of unified position in helping Somalia to resolve its problems. I completely agree with what you said that when we compare with other countries, I’m afraid to say that there is lack. However, we’ve got neighboring countries like Ethiopia that they send their forces to Somalia to help the Somali people. Under the Africa Union Forces there are also Ugandan troops. We know how Ethiopians sacrifice with us at the right time when Somalia is in need. But there is always a question to the other international community that it should put efforts in bringing proper solutions to Somalia.
WIC: - Some political Analysts said that the escalation of problems in Somalia is because of the terrorist groups: Al-Shlbab and Al-Quaida. Do you have any comment on that?
Ambassador Abdikarim: - Yes, there are foreign terrorists in Somalia. But in Somali tradition and customs, we don’t have terrorists. Those people coming from outside in the name of Jihadist and other international terrorists are training our young people. However, it is the Somali people who would be losers at the end of the day unless they lead their children in the right direction. The TFG and its ally Ethiopia doesn’t allow any terrorist to come inside Somalia. We are struggling to make hay any terrorist efforts of training the young in the country.
WIC:- Your Excellency Ambassador Abdikarim Farah, thank you very much for your cooperation and if you have anything to add, WIC is happy to entertain it?
Ambassador Abdikarim:- Thank you very much. I just want to add one thing. I would like to thank to all Ethiopians and their leaders who gave me a tremendous support when I was in Addis Ababa as an Ambassador to Somalia. It was the first time for me to work as an ambassador but due to the support of the Ethiopians I managed my duties well. I shall never forget the magnificent support of the government and the people and I shall always remember and appreciate it.
