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U.S.
Peacekeeping Plan for Somalia Criticized |
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Wednesday,
November 29th, 2006 |
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Sending Intervention Force Could Create Wider
War With Islamic Militias, Some Fear
By Colum Lynch
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 29, 2006; Page A19
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 28 -- The United States has finalized a draft
U.N. Security Council resolution that would authorize a force of
East African peacekeepers to intervene in Somalia to prevent the
overthrow of the country's struggling government at the hands of
Islamic militias. But some European diplomats and other critics
expressed concern that the initiative could trigger a wider war in
the region.
The U.S. proposal comes as an alliance of militias, known as the
Conservative Council of Islamic Courts, is extending its military
and political control over Somalia and threatening the country's
weak interim government. Ethiopia has sent thousands of troops to
help prop up the government while its rival, Eritrea, has deployed
thousands of troops to fight alongside the militias, according to a
recent U.N. report.
The U.S. text, which is backed by China, Russia and key African
states, would permit an East African protection force to provide
security for Somalia's transitional federal government, based in
Baidoa. It would partly lift a 14-year arms embargo so East African
troops could train a Somali security force and import weapons to
fulfill their mandate. And it would also commit the Security Council
to "consider taking measures" against states that try to "overthrow"
the interim government, threaten regional stability or "seek to
prevent or block" peace talks.
An alliance of seven East African governments, known as the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development, first proposed such a
regional force to protect Somalia's interim government more than 1
1/2 years ago, before the Islamic militias emerged as a major power.
The troops probably would be drawn primarily from Uganda, council
diplomats said, but Ethiopia and Kenya have also expressed an
interest in participating.
The African Union subsequently backed the proposal, but it then
languished at the United Nations.
The case for an intervention force became more urgent this past
summer, after the militias seized control of Mogadishu, Somalia's
capital, from a loose alliance of Somali warlords. U.S. and African
diplomats, along with others at the United Nations, are worried that
the militias are poised to drive out the government. They have
encouraged the interim government and the Islamic Courts Union to
negotiate a political settlement to end the fighting.
European and U.N. officials have privately voiced concern that the
establishment of the force, which the militias oppose, could provoke
a new military offensive against the government. They have also
expressed fears that the conflict could reignite fighting between
Ethiopia and Eritrea, which ended their border war in 2000.
"We need to . . . encourage the Somali parties
to continue the dialogue," said U.N. Secretary General Kofi
Annan. "What is also important is we need to
make sure that neighboring countries do not get drawn in, because
there is a tendency for some of the neighboring countries to get
drawn in."
The International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank, issued
a warning Monday that the U.S. resolution "could trigger all-out war
in Somalia" and destabilize the Horn of Africa.
"You don't win in Somalia by picking one side
and support it and funneling arms to it," said Nick Grono, an
expert on Africa at the organization. He said the Islamic militias
have warned that they would respond to foreign intervention with the
declaration of a holy war. "That is a recipe
for jihad," he said.
France and other European governments have
asked the United States to consider amendments designed to assure
the Islamic militias that they are not taking sides in the war. For
instance, they are calling for the exclusion of the countries
bordering Somalia -- Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya -- from
participating in the force.
A U.S. spokesman said the United States probably will present its
draft resolution to the 15-nation council on Wednesday. Other
council diplomats suggested that the U.N. dispute may delay that.
John R. Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said the
United States is "trying to move as fast as we can" to call for a
vote on the resolution. But he said he is still "seeking agreement
from a number of countries on some critical points."
"We need to do something as opposed to just watching the situation
deteriorate," he added. "But we want to get it right."
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| Caynaba News
kama masuul aha afkaarta ay xanbaarsan yihiin qoraallada ay
akhristayaashu fekerkooda ku cabbirayaan. |
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11:00 GMT
