Islamist warns world powers
2006-07-17 10:49
Mogadishu - The supreme leader of Somalia's increasingly powerful Islamist movement warned world powers on Monday against backing peacekeepers for the lawless nation, where his forces were now dominant.
Speaking as the international contact group on Somalia was to meet to discuss options for restoring stability in the Horn of Africa country, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys said such a force was unnecessary and would be resisted.
He also rejected charges that the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia (SICS) wanted to replace the weak Somali transitional government as the main authority in the country, but urged it to drop its refusal to meet with his group.
He said: "I am appealing to the countries meeting not to ignore the political realities in Somalia."
Mogadishu 'is peaceful'
The contact group members were preparing to meet in Brussels amid growing signs that the international community might back peacekeepers.
Aweys said: "They should not concentrate on sending peacekeepers who are not needed here. Mogadishu ... is peaceful: it was pacified without any intervention from the international community."
He was referring to the ouster of warlords in June after months of bloody fighting by Islamist militia.
But, the rise of the Islamists had fuelled fears of a Taliban-style takeover of Somalia, particularly as some Islamists, including Aweys, were considered extremists and accused of harbouring terrorists. They denied the charges.
Last week, the United Nations security council endorsed the possible easing of a 14-year-old arms embargo on Somalia to help support a regional peacekeeping force to back the largely powerless transitional government.
Geo-political interests
But Aweys said such a step, which had been repeatedly called for by the government, the African Union and the east African nations that would provide troops for the mission, was a "recipe" for disaster.
He said: "The neighbouring countries have geo-political interests in Somalia and to consider them peacemakers is a recipe for violence and renewed clashes, which could affect the whole region." He named Ethiopia as the prime suspect.
Aweys said: "The problem of Somalia is not a lack of weapons, but a lack of peace and understanding of each other."
He renewed calls for the government to drop its insistence on peacekeepers and lifting the embargo, maintaining the issues were keeping it from addressing the more important matter of easing tensions within Somalia.
The government boycotted Arab League-sponsored talks with Islamists in Khartoum, accusing them of violating a previous truce and recognition pact, and was now split with members of parliament over whether to drop the objections.
According to Aweys: "The discussion of lifting of the embargo and attempts to bring peacekeepers has distracted the government from reconciliation."