Monday, October 30, 2006
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KHARTOUM (AFP) - Somalia's powerful Islamist movement Monday accused neighboring Ethiopia of "declaring war" on them, as they awaited the delayed resumption of peace talks here with the country's weak government. While they and mediators prepared for the late arrival of a government delegation, the Islamists renewed accusations that Ethiopia had sent troops to support the transitional administration and again rejected Kenyan mediation.
"Ethiopia has declared war on Somalia and has already made a large military incursion deep into Somali territory," they said in a letter to mediators and international observers attending the talks in the Sudanese capital. "That not only undermines the reconciliation process but also seriously threatens peace and security of Somalia and the whole region in general," the letter said.
"Any new conflict will not only retard, but destroy the peace dividends and civic gains so far achieved," it said, referring to developments since the Islamists seized Mogadishu in June and then rapidly expanded territory. "We are [also] seriously opposed to the co-chairmanship of Kenya in this peace process and we would like to be assured of acceptance of our points of view before the commencement of business," said the letter signed by the delegation of the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia (SICS).
The text was addressed to the Sudanese hosts of the talks, the Arab League, the United Nations, and the US-created International Contact Group on Somalia, all of which fear all-out war that may erupt into regional conflict.
It was released after the planned 11:00 am (0800 GMT) start of the third round of negotiations, to be chaired by the Arab League and Kenya, was delayed by the late arrival of the government delegation amid reports of infighting.
UN envoy for Somalia Francois Fall said that he was confident that Arab and African mediators as well as international observers in Sudan for the negotiations would resolve conditions set out by Islamists to meet the government face-to-face.
"The international community members that are here to support the peace process will meet the Islamic courts to resolve the conditions laid down," Fall told reporters at the talks' venue, adding that such a meeting would also be held with members of the transitional government.
At the weekend, the Islamists said that they would attend the talks but would not meet face-to-face with the government unless Ethiopia withdraws troops that it has allegedly deployed to Somalia to protect the administration.
They also rejected Kenya as co-chair of the negotiations, accusing it of pro-government bias for supporting, along with Ethiopia, the deployment of a proposed regional peacekeeping force.
Mainly Christian Ethiopia denies reports that it has as many as 8,000 soldiers in Somalia but acknowledges sending military advisors to help protect the government from "jihadists" some of whom are accused of links with Al Qaeda.
Kenya was appointed this month to co-chair the negotiations with the Arab League, which had been the sole mediator at two previous rounds, after the government complained of Arab bias.
Kenya currently holds the presidency of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a group of seven East African nations that brokered the formation of the government in 2004 and now plans to send peacekeepers there.
But the bloc is deeply split over the proposed mission, with members Eritrea and Djibouti opposing the force; Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, the Somali government in favor; and Sudan backing off earlier support.
The Islamists have vowed to fight any foreign troops on Somali territory and, in their letter, accused IGAD and the African Union, which has endorsed the force, of creating "new hostilities."
"It is amazing that while the SICS and the Somali people have achieved so much within a short time, some members of IGAD, unfortunately supported by the African Union and other countries, are creating new hostilities in Somalia," it said.
They said that rampant lawlessness endemic in Somalia since 1991 had been curbed in areas they control, with the creation of Islamic courts, the elimination of freelance gunmen, and resumption of public works projects.
Source: AFP, Oct. 30, 2006