Sunday, December 23, 2007
(Adds Burundian peacekeepers arrive)
By Aweys Yusuf and Abdi Sheikh
MOGADISHU, Dec 23 (Reuters) - A first contingent of 100 peacekeepers from Burundi deployed in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Sunday, hours after fighting between Islamist rebels and government forces killed at least four people.
The arrival of the Burundian soldiers in the rubble-strewn city marked the first phase of long-delayed support for 1,600 Ugandan troops who began work in March as the vanguard of a planned 8,000-strong African Union (AU) mission.
"One hundred peacekeepers from Burundi have just landed here," Captain Paddy Ankunda, the AU force spokesman, told Reuters at Mogadishu's heavily guarded international airport.
Burundi's government had pledged to send about 1,700 troops to Somalia's capital. They were meant to arrive in July, but their deployment was repeatedly delayed. It was not immediately clear when the rest of the Burundian contingent would arrive.
Without support, the Ugandans have been restricted to guarding Mogadishu's sea and air ports and presidential palace, as well as providing security for top government officials.
 |
|
Burundi deployed in Somali |
Meanwhile, fierce battles broke out overnight in northern neighbourhoods of the city as Islamist-led insurgents attacked government security forces and their Ethiopian allies.
Residents cowered behind closed doors as both sides exchanged barrages of artillery rounds and machinegun fire.
"A mortar shell landed at a home in Yaqshid, killing two people. Another resident was killed by crossfire," one local, Mohamed Afrah, told Reuters by telephone. Several other mortar bombs landed nearby, he said, but only damaged empty houses.
A doctor at Mogadishu's main Madina hospital said two victims of the overnight fighting had been admitted there.
"One of them, a 14-year-old boy, died a few minutes ago," said Dahir Dheere. "The other one is in a serious condition."
On Saturday, the AU described the conflict in Somalia as one of the most serious challenges for peace and security on the continent. The United Nations says the country is suffering Africa's worst humanitarian crisis.
Somalia has been mired in lawlessness since warlords ousted military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.
There have been 14 attempts to restore effective central rule since then, but the latest has been weakened by an Islamist-led insurgency against Ethiopian-backed government forces and persistent political infighting. (Editing by Daniel Wallis and Mary Gabriel).
Source: Reuters, December 23, 2007
I am feeling mad and Somalis have to know what I know Ethiopia go home and Uganda armies you have been used I am a Somali and not happy..
|
|
If you can't provide solution to your own mess someone will have the mandate to risk their own "kids" to protect and save what's left of your own destructive un-immaginable deadly and barbaric life-style means. The world has changed and any peace keeping mission is a good start!
|
|
Burundi the might be hungry and stubborn stay away from their girls you will not be forgiven on this one it is not the deal.
|
|
Where does hamdi get her news i would the BBC the SOmali section
|
|
BAGHDAD BOB,
Somali land is at war, have you not heard, for the last
three days they are at war with each other, no one is
reporting, except you have to at the somali chat rooms
and follow the websites that are reporting, it is
very hush hush lol, only in somalia can you see
a war that is hush hush. Somaliland is no position
to keep a peace, it cannot even keep peace within
its colonial border which it claims
|
|
Gadhyahe,
what do you want me to wait? for the child that will
be born to free me? I have waiting for the somali man
to bring solution for the past 17 years, you could not
you are my tor*mentor, my tortu*rer, my nig*htmare,
the one who hum*ilitates me, the one who displaces me,
the one who kil*ls my sons, and daughter, and you
tell me to wait until you will bring peace to me.
no thanks, i will put my trust in god and in the
outside world.
|
|
somaliland must also contribute with peacekeepers.
|
|
we are all submitting our comments from every corner of the globe and thanks to hiiraan on line for the opportunities ..brothers and sisters..there is something called peace out there for us..for 17 years we havent brought to our country..there those who are trying to bring peace to us..lets shut and obey and stop this blaming games . peace is coming and no one will listen to you again.
|
|
Hamdi,
Do you really have to praise your occupiers like that?
The crucial matter that needs to be dealt with is not the deployment of foreign forces, but rather we need to reconcile first, and build peaceful frame work inorder for it to be kept. At the momement that is lacking.
I am sure we dont need foreign forces whose very presense is to dry up what ever meagre outside financial assistance we get from the international community (which I don´t belief in its existence) to rebuild the country.
On a more serious not: Actually there is no peace to keep. It is just an exercise in futility.
|
|
It is shame to see other African sons to come to
Somalia in order to free the Somali women and children
from the Somali Man! it is really shamefull,
All the commentors here are mostly men who are
blinded by their ha*ter for each other and forgot
that their women and children are out in the wind,
rain, and hot sun, nothing to eat and no shelter!
bombing each other their own offsprings, while the
somali man holds a pi8ssing contest. how ruthless!
Burundi sons the somali women Thank you
|
|
Eritrea has long ago complained about the AU blind loyalty to Zanawi regime, but AU has not pay any attention to Eritrean genuine complains which led to Eritrea withdrawal of it's from AU membership. AU has long being accused of being loyal to Zanawi and puppet of Ethiopian regime, and there is great possibility that high rank AU officials who reside in Addis Ababa are in the pay role of Zanawi government. Sending Burundi troops came when AU has realized that Ethiopian forces have indeed committed a gross human rights violation by indiscriminate shelling and collective punishment of Moqdisho inhabitant, and to disguise Ethiopain crimeS in somalia, and avoid international criticism on somali plight, AU started to come with new initiative which is simply planning again to reinforce zanawi regime agenda in Somali and send more troops in supporting Ehtiopans troops failure to suffocate the will somali people. Thanks to somali Diaspora by their relentless effort of bringing up our country plight and unabated ethiopian aggression on our country to the to rest of the world. If we can not fight along with our brother in somalia, we can help them exposing Ethiopian and AU conspiracy to the rest of the world. Keep up the good work. Good bless Somalia
|
|
It is naive and foolish to think that Ethiopian troops will bring about peace because it is not their mandate and intention. Meles has been arming the Somali warlords against each other for the last 17 years, and the only reason that he sent his mercenary troops to Mogadishu is to sabotage the peace that was prevalent in all south central Somalia. However, his evil plan is disrupted by the heroic Somali freedom fighters. Somali resistance fighters are gaining the upper hand and Ethiopians are looking for a way out. I hope they stay much longer so that they can taste the bullets of our freedom fighters.
|
|
Deployment of AU troops will not change anything unless Ethiopian colonial troops leave Somalia immediately. Then a real and genuine reconciliation conference must be held where all the stakeholders are invited. The warlords grip of power must be broken and the occupation must end before can be any talk of peace. Burundi and Uganda must understand that if they side with one party of the Somali conflict they will soon become part of the problem and will face resistance like one Ethiopian occupation forces are facing.
|
|
I think we should let these guys help us, then work on the security issues. The Ethiopians will leave us once we have security and our own government.
|
|
It is a good news that Burundi, as well as the international community, are putting their trust in the leadership of President Yusuf and Prime Minister Adde. It is their leadership and every Somali men and women working with them that is paving the way for the reconstruction of new and modern Somalia (Insha Allah); and the whole world sees, the start, but the sea change taking place in Mogadisho and many parts of the country.
We salute their leadership and pray to Allah/swt to help them in this struggle to secure peaceful and prosperous Somalia.
|
|
Becouse of their mandate and influence, they are similar to Ethopians.
|
|
M. Adam, we are the same page on this topic, I think. Negotiating with government on political issues should start again the peace process. But, it is believed that Ethiopian be forced to leave from our territory since they came in without a consensus of parliamentary. Ethiopian is here for different reasons, not for a peace.
|
|
I don't think foriegn troops is the answer to our problem. Somalis had enjoyed never been seen 6 peace during the UIC rule, which none of these countries would like to see. That proves we can finnaly handle our problem if it is left to our few wise leaders. If you believe Eithopian occupation in Somali is helping, think again. Eithopia is not there to help but colonize, need a prove? please check the Somalia's new passport, Which is bearing the name E-SOMALI. That is Eithopia's Somali Territory. We have been sold to the Eithopians.
|
|
M J Ali: I agree that African forces should secure
Airports, Ports and handeling the humanitarian assistance.
"All Somalia forces please just focus on pushing
Ethiopian forces out of the country" I must disagree
your point of view becasue we know that the fact
we can't win this fight... the people that are losing
thier lives are our people... we should solve this
fight in political process...
Somali's peace must come from Somali people.
Fighting with Ethiopia is not gonna
solve political our problems or bring peace into somalia
Young somali's need future not war
Somali leaders use young people for wars but
they don't want us to have future... please let's
a void war because we know that many insant people
will be displaced or killed
|
|
Caaacalka io jabka tikree iyo ciidamadan lakeenay maxaa isku aadiyay? qofkii acqli leh baa fahmi karo. si aay Ethopia uga cararaan somalia oo dhahaan mar hadee peacekeepers imaadeen shaqadeenii weeey noo dhamaatay. dhibka jiro ciidamadooda somaliya kama baxsankaraan. wadooyinkii waxaa xiray maxaakiinta. stuck beey hamar ku yihiin. fredomfighters weey ka faaiideesanaayaan. lagama yaabo ineey somalia ama hamar ka baxaan iyagoo nabad ah.
|
|
Any peacekeeping force that will speed up the unconditional withdrwal of the Ethiopian troops is fine and welcome
|
|
Both their uniforms and armoury are those of South African Defence Forces. They very much resemble the South African Army.
Poor Burundi, your sons will be draged in an unforgiving and dangerous country where you are not wanted.
|
|
it dependends the way they behave, if they are a neutral forces that has a clear mandate and can play good role in peace keeping they are welcome, but I doubt that. what happened in Somalia is a arranged genocide which the violators are present in the country, and AU has played a major role, so what can AU troops do in Somalia? may be they are here to cover up the war crimes that has been committed.
|
|
All Somali forces please just focus on pushing Ethiopian forces out of the country. But, let other African forces secure air ports, see ports, and distribution of humanitarian foods: things that create problems among us. It is a crucial time for peace process; please don't fight with African forces. Again, remember two things: pushing Ethiopian out of the country and negotiating with government. And, that could be a road of successes.
|
|