Ethiopia says to observe closely developments in Mogadishu

June 26, 2006

Ethiopia said Friday it will continue to "observe closely the developments in Mogadishu and remain vigilant to protect its territory from any threat of crossing its border."

In a weekly statement, Ethiopia's Ministry of Information said Ethiopia reiterates the urgency for ensuring a lasting peace and assisting the legitimate Transitional Federal Government of Somalia through the concerted efforts of Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), African Union (AU), the Arab League and the international community at large.

"In spite of the encouraging tasks accomplished in mitigating the security problems in the various parts of the continent, we find ourselves at a crucial time when the efforts of all parties is essential to give a lasting solution to the current crises in Somalia," the statement said.

The international community has long since been making many breath-taking efforts to ensure lasting peace in Somalia, which showed an encouraging progress by establishing legitimate interim government with which all contesting parties represented and which fostered the vision for forming and consolidating a strong and stable central government, it said.

However, a widespread violence has erupted in Somalia recently, shuttering the prospect of all the encouraging developments for peaceful and stable Somalia, it said.

The havoc, wrecked by an armed group calling itself Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), has disrupted the relative peace gained in the past, the statement lamented.

Apparently, the international community, especially the AU and IGAD, are making their relentless efforts to avert the current crisis in Somalia, it added.

The UIC took control of the Somali capital Mogadishu early this month after routing an alliance of warlords whose militias have held sway in the city since the early 1990s.

Somalia is currently without a functioning national administration and has been wracked by civil strife since 1991 when the regime led by Muhammad Siyad Barre was toppled.

Presently, the TFG is based in Baidoa town, 240 km from Mogadishu, and Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed said his administration would move to the capital city when peace returned there.

Source: Xinhua