Somalia

President calls for peacekeeping force

Article published on the 2008-06-02 Latest update 2008-06-02 19:45 TU

Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed.
(Photo : AFP)

Somalia’s President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed said Monday that the UN would have to deploy a peacekeeping force in his country before Ethiopian troops could withdraw, to avoid a power vacuum. “The eventual withdrawal of the Ethopian troops from Somalia is contingent of the deployment of the United Nations peacemaking force and the cessation of hostilities,” he said.

Abdullahi was in Djibouti for a second round of peace talks with the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. A United Nations Security Council delegation, starting off on a six-country African tour, attended the first day of talks to show their support for the peace process.

Like the first round of negotiations, the two groups were not planning to meet face-to-face. Instead, the Security Council held meetings with each group separately.

Like the first round of negotiations, the two groups were not planning to meet face-to-face. However, the UN Security Council did hold meetings attended by both groups.

The UN, which is chairing the talks, also invited civil society groups to participate as neutral parties to the talks.

However, violence continues in the country, putting the fragile negotiations at risk. On Sunday, Abdullahi escaped unhurt after an attack on his presidential plane.

Abdurahman Ibbi of the opposition Alliance confirmed that the attacks were indeed carried out by members of the militant wing of his group.

“I agree with them in being resistance against the occupation… I have some reservations about some [of their] actions… but whomever is fighting for the independence of Somalia is a hero to our country,” Ibbi told RFI.

The preconditions for peace have left the two sides at loggerheads. The opposition forces fighting in Somalia have called for the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops before they would lay down their arms. However, the government will only ask the Ethiopians to leave if the UN accepts to deploy a peacekeeping force.

More than a dozen attempts at peace have failed since the country plunged into civil war following the ouster of President Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.