Somalia's parliament pleads Kenya and Ethiopia to send troops

"We have, as a parliament, decided to ask the regional governments — like Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti — as well as the international community to intervene militarily in Somalia within 24 hours to help the Somali nation"

(AP) — Somali lawmakers pleaded Saturday for international military intervention to help fight Islamic insurgents in the lawless African nation, where heavy fighting left at least 10 people dead in the capital.

Parliament passed a resolution saying it needed foreign countries to send troops immediately, Speaker Sheik Adam Mohamed Nor told journalists, without giving details of the vote. President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, who is also a member of parliament, did not take part.

"We have, as a parliament, decided to ask the regional governments — like Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti — as well as the international community to intervene militarily in Somalia within 24 hours to help the Somali nation," Nor said.

Fierce battles between the insurgents and government troops since Friday have left at least 10 people dead in the capital, according to witnesses, and forced the Parliament to hold its session Saturday in the presidential palace rather than its usual venue in northern Mogadishu.

Separately, the government on Saturday called for a state of emergency to be declared in the country. The president must announce the state of emergency before it can begin, though it is unlikely to change much as the weak government controls only a few blocks of the capital and a border town.

A suicide attack Thursday in western Somalia killed the country's national security minister and four other government officials. A hospital official there said late Friday that another 35 people had been killed in the attack, for which extremist Islamic group al-Shabab claimed responsibility. Somalia's president had blamed al-Qaida.

The U.S. State Department considers al-Shabab a terrorist group with links to al-Qaida, which al-Shabab denies.

Counterterrorism experts have long feared Somalia is a haven for the terror network.

The United States, which in the past has launched air strikes targeting suspected al-Qaida members in Somalia, accuses al-Shabab of harboring al-Qaida-linked terrorists who allegedly blew up U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

It was unclear whether parliament's resolution Saturday would persuade Somalia's neighbors — Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya — to send in troops.

Ethiopia deployed troops for two years in Somalia to support the fragile, Western-backed government. They were withdrawn under an intricate peace deal in January following the election as president of moderate Islamist Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, who had objected to the Ethiopians' presence in Somalia.

Last month Ethiopia sent in troops to the border regions of Somalia.

Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya are members of the Intergovernmental Authority Development, a regional group which has led past peace talks on Somalia and last month imposed a sea and air blockade to stop supplies reaching the Islamic insurgents there. It is not clear whether the blockade is effective.

There is already an African Union force in Mogadishu but its mandate is restricted to guarding key government officials and installations.

Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991 when warlords overthrew longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and plunged the country into anarchy and chaos. The lawlessness also has allowed Somali pirates to flourish, making the nation the world's worst piracy hotspot.

Source: Associated Press

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Added: June 21, 2009. 10:43 PM GMT

Go to Somalia with caution

This is not the first time the countries, particularly Ethiopia, have been asked to help the TG of Somalia. Ethiopia has indeed gone there and done that already. While the last intervention did work, at least in removing the regional threat, it has obviously not led to a lasting solution for Somalia. Thus, if the Ethiopian Government is to consider responding to the call (or pleading as you have put it), it should be based on a serious assessment of two major issues: why? and to what extent?

The first thing the EG should do is ask the rationale for intervention - Is it to help the Somali people/government? or Do we have an interest to protect? One may argue that a radical leadership would itself constitute a threat; or we need to keep the alternative ports open ... whatever the case, this has to be assessed in light of possible costs in financial and other terms.

I know the Ethiopian Government, especially the defence ministry, reportedly has a tradition of self evaluation. That is what is needed. In other words, a well intentioned but unconsidered/ poorly considered intervention may be unfruitful for everybody involved and even help the fundamentalists.

Having said so, IMHO the problem is not in Somalia but up North. Evenif someone intervenes and pushes the fighters outside the country, they will regroup under the protection of Mr Isayas and come back. Since invading his country would be realizing his dreams of rule by fear, other solutions have to be sought to convince him to keep his hands to himself as a condition for any hope in Somalia. In this context, I believe intervention in Somalia alone would be a fool's errand.

Anonymous

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Added: June 20, 2009. 08:37 PM GMT

I don't understand what Al-shabaab want? They even refuse the Somali flag. It seems to me that the government gived up to soon for negociation. This country does not need any intervension from Ethiopia(Wayane)or Kenya. It need Muslim nations such Egypt, Turkey, or Indunisia.
It seems to me that Wayane did not learn a lesson yet. I want to come back so that we can teach them really lesson once more.
The collapse of this nagime is near, I am encouraging ONLF AND OLF TO TAKE ADVANTAGE WHILE HE IS BUSY IS SOMALIA.
I hate Al Shabaan because they refused negociation and killing innocent people.
I believe Mr.Ahmed can defend his government without help. He needs to believe himself rather asking help the enemy of Somalia people (Wayane).

Anonymous

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Added: June 20, 2009. 05:46 PM GMT

The weakness of somalis, that they beg for intervention which will ignite more bloodshed specially because of ethiopia(if said ok), the government even has no legetmasi and much cmplicated political problem rather than negotiating with alshebab what ever they demand.

East Africa can only have peace, if Ogaden, Somalia, and Oromo question is prperly addressed. Melles Zenawi, at this moment is in trouble. His intervention will a big negative for his shakened hated government.

bilals

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