Somali Canadians fear war at home

As the debate about the rights of dual citizens living abroad continues within the federal government, members of Canada's Somali community say they're worried Canadian relatives will be stranded if war breaks out in their East African homeland.

Somalia slipped closer to war this week when formal talks broke down between the powerful Islamic Courts and the UN-backed transitional federal government, which has struggled for legitimacy for the past four years.

But hopes for peace brightened yesterday when Sharif Hassan Sheik Aden, the leader of Somalia's parliament, said he plans to open peace talks with Islamic militants this weekend in Mogadishu. Sheik Abdirahim Ali Mudey, a spokesman for the Islamic Courts, said the militia welcomes the initiative.

Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991, when warlords overthrew a dictator and then turned on one another. But the Islamic Courts have been expanding their territory since June and now control much of the country's south.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Réjean Beaulieu said yesterday only 19 Canadians have officially registered with the Canadian High Commission in Kenya, which holds responsibility for Somalia.

But it's believed hundreds of Canadians are now living there — many returning recently to either support the Islamists or interim government in the hopes of bringing stability to the region.

Since more than $80 million was spent by the federal government this summer evacuating 15,000 Canadians from Lebanon during the Israeli conflict with Hezbollah, the role of the government regarding dual citizens has come under intense scrutiny. In July, Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised Canada would review its practice of paying to remove Canadians who have willingly returned to countries in conflict. This week Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay told a Senate committee that Canadians living abroad might be taxed.

Beaulieu noted yesterday the federal government has advised Canadians since March 1998 not to travel to Somalia. But if there's a need for evacuation, Canada has "an agreement with other countries to help Canadians who would want to leave."

"Our high commission in Nairobi has also contacts with some non-governmental organizations in Somalia," Beaulieu said.

Toronto Somali community leader Abdurahman Hosh Jibril said he hoped an advisory against travel, and any new regulations imposed by Ottawa, would not hinder efforts to help.

"The advisory is good because it gives precautions. But with respect to Somalia there are family connections, there are businesses," Jibril said. "They can't say we will not support you because there is an advisory, we warned you before."

Many analysts are predicting war is all but inevitable as neighbouring Ethiopia and Eritrea reportedly continue to move forces and supplies into the country to back the rivalling sides. But the transitional government's Information Minister Ali Jama disagreed with those predictions in an email exchange with the Star yesterday.

"The situation on the ground is tense but there is nothing inevitable about armed conflict. We are prepared for any eventuality but hopefully it will not come to that," Jama, a Canadian, wrote.

With files from Associated Press

 

Source: Toronto Star, Nov 4, 2006