Eritrean President Continues To Condemn AU Troops in Mogadishu

26 May 2009

Mogadishu — Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki reiterate his country's condemnation of the African Union troops in Mogadishu and said they could not keep peace in Somalia.

Speaking with Shabelle Media Network in his office in Asmara, President Afwerki said Ugandan and Burundian troops in Mogadishu came as an umbrella of Ethiopian invasion.

"The Ugandan and Burundian troops came as an umbrella for the invasion of Ethiopia which was supported by Bush administration which is illegitimate in the first palace, the invading power can not possibly have any legitimacy from the adopted resolutions of IGAD and AU," Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki told Shabelle television and radio.

"Uganda can not send peace keepers to Somalia when it can not maintain peace and security in Uganda, it is not well equipped and it has its own domestic problems," he added.

Mr. Afwerki said foreign troops could not bring solution to Somalia and called for the AU mission in Somalia to end their presence in Mogadishu.

Afwerki said Burundian troops could keep security and stability in Mogadishu.

"The government in Burundi can not secure peace and stability in Bujumbura, the capital. How can we expect Burundi to send peace keepers to Somalia and claim keep peace in Mogadishu? President Afwerki said.

He denied that Eritrea has been playing proxy war in Somalia and described as baseless accusations.

Noting that the solution lies in addressing the root cause, and not the consequences, President Isaias indicated that "so-called governments" imposed on the Somali people from the outside which has no authority beyond Mogadishu and its vicinity is further aggravating the problem.

Hawiye Elders Denounce Somali Islamist Government Of Sheikh Sherif

Hawiye traditional elders have accused the Somali transitional government on Thursday for holding tribal meetings in Mogadishu and its statement on the Ethiopian troops' entry in parts of Hiran region in central Somalia.

Abdullahi Hassan Abukar known as (Abdullahi Dere), the spokesman of Hawiye elders for the political affairs told Shabelle radio that it is not good for the Somali government to deal as the war lords and use tribe.

Mr. Dere said that it is also good to be remembered that the transitional government had rejected earlier forming Islamic court which one of the Somali clans wanted to form to work the security in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

On the other hand the spokesman of the Hawiye traditional elders for the political affairs Mr. Abdullahi Dere accused the statement of the government's information minister Farhan Ali Mohamud for saying that the government was not aware any report that Ethiopian troops entered in Kala-beyrka intersection in Hiran region in central Somalia.

Hawiye elders were part of the people who were calling not to attack the transitional government though they had never announced that they were supporting it but the current statement of the elders seems rebuke to the government of Somalia.

EsinIslam.Com