SOMALIA: Security Council condemns violence
NAIROBI, 13 MARCH 2003 (IRIN) - The UN Security Council has condemned the continuing fighting in Somalia, and called for an immediate end to all acts of violence and for safe access to humanitarian personnel.
"It is those that have weapons of war who continue to hold the people of Somalia hostage to the cycle of violence," said a statement by the Council's current president, Guinean Ambassador Mamady Traore. "These people will be held accountable by the Somali people and the international community for their actions if they persist on the path of confrontation and conflict."
Thursday, March 13, 2003
Government denies troop presence in Somalia
NAIROBI, 13 MARCH 2003 (IRIN) - The Ethiopian government has denied accusations by the Transitional National Government (TNG) of Somalia that Ethiopian forces have invaded Somali territory.
In a statement, the Ethiopian foreign ministry said "there is no Ethiopian soldier in Somalia" and described the accusation as "totally groundless and with no grain of truth".
On Tuesday, Muhammad Abdi Yusuf, the deputy speaker of the Transitional National Assembly and acting leader of the TNG delegation to the peace talks underway in Kenya, told IRIN that Ethiopian troops had "occupied parts of Somalia over the past few days". He added that "so long as Ethiopia is part of the mediation group, the TNG will not participate".
NAIROBI, 13 MARCH 2003 (IRIN) - The Ethiopian government has denied accusations by the Transitional National Government (TNG) of Somalia that Ethiopian forces have invaded Somali territory.
In a statement, the Ethiopian foreign ministry said "there is no Ethiopian soldier in Somalia" and described the accusation as "totally groundless and with no grain of truth".
On Tuesday, Muhammad Abdi Yusuf, the deputy speaker of the Transitional National Assembly and acting leader of the TNG delegation to the peace talks underway in Kenya, told IRIN that Ethiopian troops had "occupied parts of Somalia over the past few days". He added that "so long as Ethiopia is part of the mediation group, the TNG will not participate".
Somaliland begins campaign
LONDON, 12 MARCH 2003 (BBC)--Campaigning has begun in the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland for its first multi-party presidential election, which is to be held next month. The current leader of Somaliland, Dahir Riyaale Kahin, is being challenged by candidates from two opposition parties.
Mr Kahin succeeded the long-standing leader of the breakaway republic, Mohamed Egal, following his death in May last year.
Somaliland declared independence in 1991, as the rest of Somalia descended into anarchy. Mr Egal was elected president two years later, but the territory has never won international recognition.
Concerns
One of the candidates, Feisal Ali Warabe, expressed doubt that the election would be free and fair. Election Commission chairman Abdirahman Hagi Ali Adami has also criticised the authorities for not handing over all the promised funds to supervise the elections.
He also expressed concern about a hostile atmosphere in eastern areas.
On Monday, two soldiers died and six others were wounded when a armed car overtured near the town of Lughaye. The vehicle was carrying the president's bodyguards.
LONDON, 12 MARCH 2003 (BBC)--Campaigning has begun in the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland for its first multi-party presidential election, which is to be held next month. The current leader of Somaliland, Dahir Riyaale Kahin, is being challenged by candidates from two opposition parties.
Mr Kahin succeeded the long-standing leader of the breakaway republic, Mohamed Egal, following his death in May last year.
Somaliland declared independence in 1991, as the rest of Somalia descended into anarchy. Mr Egal was elected president two years later, but the territory has never won international recognition.
Concerns
One of the candidates, Feisal Ali Warabe, expressed doubt that the election would be free and fair. Election Commission chairman Abdirahman Hagi Ali Adami has also criticised the authorities for not handing over all the promised funds to supervise the elections.
He also expressed concern about a hostile atmosphere in eastern areas.
On Monday, two soldiers died and six others were wounded when a armed car overtured near the town of Lughaye. The vehicle was carrying the president's bodyguards.
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Somali crisis still defies quick fixes
NAIROBI, 12 MARCH 2003--Somalia’s peace process stands at a crossroads. So far, the Somali National Peace Conference in Kenya has borne a sad resemblance to the many failed initiatives that have preceded it in the past 12 years.
Its leaders can now choose either to continue down that well-trodden path to failure, or give new direction and new life to the process.
NAIROBI, 12 MARCH 2003--Somalia’s peace process stands at a crossroads. So far, the Somali National Peace Conference in Kenya has borne a sad resemblance to the many failed initiatives that have preceded it in the past 12 years.
Its leaders can now choose either to continue down that well-trodden path to failure, or give new direction and new life to the process.
Somalia border alert
LONON, 12 MARCH 2003--Somalia's Transitional National Government (TNG) has put its forces on full alert.
It says it is acting in response to reports of a heavy military build up of Ethiopia troops, tanks and armoured personnel carriers along the border between the two countries.
Only last month, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi admitted to the BBC that he had occasionally sent troops into neighbouring Somalia to attack members of the militant Islamist group, al-Ittihad.
LONON, 12 MARCH 2003--Somalia's Transitional National Government (TNG) has put its forces on full alert.
It says it is acting in response to reports of a heavy military build up of Ethiopia troops, tanks and armoured personnel carriers along the border between the two countries.
Only last month, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi admitted to the BBC that he had occasionally sent troops into neighbouring Somalia to attack members of the militant Islamist group, al-Ittihad.
Monday, March 10, 2003
EU condemns violations of Somalia interim peace dealNAIROBI, 10 MAR 2003 (IRIN) - The European Union has condemned violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement signed by the parties at the ongoing Somali peace talks in Kenya.
A declaration issued by the EU's current Greek presidency said the organisation "deplores the serious violations of the commitments undertaken, which are still occurring, and calls for an immediate cessation of all acts of violence in Somalia".
Under the terms of the agreement signed by the parties on 27 October, the Somali groups agreed to suspend all hostilities for the duration of the conference.
A declaration issued by the EU's current Greek presidency said the organisation "deplores the serious violations of the commitments undertaken, which are still occurring, and calls for an immediate cessation of all acts of violence in Somalia".
Under the terms of the agreement signed by the parties on 27 October, the Somali groups agreed to suspend all hostilities for the duration of the conference.
SOMALIA: Opposition accuses TNG of trying to sabotage peace talks
NAIROBI, 10 Mar 2003 (IRIN) - The Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) has accused the Transitional National Government (TNG) of trying to scuttle the ongoing peace talks. The SRRC is a grouping of the southern-based factions opposed to the TNG.
In a statement, the SRRC said the TNG was behind the current confusion bedevilling the peace process by presenting itself as the legitimate government of Somalia. This was "inconsistent with the understanding of the principle of no-preconditionality agreed [to] prior to this conference".
NAIROBI, 10 Mar 2003 (IRIN) - The Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) has accused the Transitional National Government (TNG) of trying to scuttle the ongoing peace talks. The SRRC is a grouping of the southern-based factions opposed to the TNG.
In a statement, the SRRC said the TNG was behind the current confusion bedevilling the peace process by presenting itself as the legitimate government of Somalia. This was "inconsistent with the understanding of the principle of no-preconditionality agreed [to] prior to this conference".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)