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By Andualem Sisay - Capital
09 January 2007
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia
indicated the need for African countries to contribute peace keeping troops
using the Burundi-model and called for the international community to provide
resource for Somalis to rebuild their country.
With the press statement both gave at the National Palace on Thursday evening,
they stressed the need for the international community to provide the necessary
support towards empowering Somalis to restore peace in their country.
Ugandan President said: “I have been watching for the last twenty one years.
There isn’t a single major African issue that has been resolved without the
Africans themselves. These include: the problem of Idi Amin racism in South
Africa, the problem of Mobutu, the recent Burundi problem, the issue in Sudan.
So, the problem of Somalia will also be solved by Africans.” It is recalled
that Tanzanians helped Uganda’s liberation from Iid Amin Dada’s dictatorship.
Uganda is one of the countries which suggested the need for deployment of peace troops to support the transitional government of Somalia when it was formed almost two years ago, although the United Nations refused the request at that time.
“Unfortunately, on the issue of Somalia the international community has neglected
us,” said President Museveni, recalling the then UN stand. “I appeal to the
international community to bring resources to Somalia now… to rebuild their
country; money for relief, for minimum infrastructure, supporting the transitional
government to rebuild the national army. I hope the international community
will now come.”
“The international community is specialized in mediation. But the Somalis
can mediate among themselves… We don’t seek mediation from the international
community: mediation means something we don’t have which is money, because
what we don’t have is enough money.”
Prime Minister Meles on his part said: “We both agreed that the Somali people
should be supported that the international community should provide adequate
humanitarian assistance to rebuild Somalia. We also agreed that the African
Union should deploy peace keeping troops at the earliest possible moment.”
Meles also indicated reaching an agreement with President Museveni on the
need for the transitional government of Somalia to be engaged in dialogue
with Somali society to establish sustainable peace through an internal Somali
process. Strengthening Meles’s statement, Museveni also said that: “I call
up on the Somali groups, including the Islamic groups, to come to the dialogue,
so that we have a win-win situation in Somalia; no loser, no winner.”
“We are ready to send our troops to Somalia; we have been ready for a long time. The only thing we need is a parliamentarian resolution. So it will not take long,” said the Ugandan president indicating the time frame for his country to send troops.
Meles on his part said: “We hope and expect that the Ugandan Parliament would reflect the attitude of the Ugandan people; the positive attitude that the people of Uganda have for the Somali people and for their African obligation will back the president in sending troops to Somalia.”
He also indicated that a slight adjustment has been made on Ethiopia’s position
of moving out its troops from Somalia as soon as it complets the military
operations. “…we said we will leave to help them in stabilizing their situation.
Fortunately with countries like Uganda coming to help the Somalis; they (the
Somalis) would not need us. The Ugandans will be there in good time to help.
I am sure other African countries will send their troops. So, I don’t think
there will be a vacuum. But my statement in parliament still stands.”
President of Uganda and First Lady Janet Museveni along with their delegation
paid a two-day official visit to Ethiopia and departed on Friday January 5.
During his visit President Museveni held talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
on bilateral trade and investment issues.
In a related development, the United States of America, on Friday promised to give 16 mln USD to support humanitarian activities in Somalia.