Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Eng. Mahboub Maalim said regional countries and member states of the IGAD need to create a unified synergy towards dealing with the Somali crisis that now threatens peace and stability while compromising security and safety in the Horn of Africa countries.
Maalim who spoke after the opening of the African Monitoring of the Environment for Sustainable Development in the IGAD region - AMESD kick-off workshop in Nairobi, however noted that member states are also pursuing development and peace building as part of the strategy to ensure peace returns in the war torn Horn of Africa.
Maalim noted that the international community needs to hasten steps and measures towards dealing with the militias that now threaten security in neighbouring states.
"The synergy towards dealing with the Somali problem has been slow and now the crisis seems to be catching up with us, and we need to move with speed in dealing with this challenge," he said.
He however noted that the IGAD member states have worked hard to ensure that the issues in Somalia remain on the international agenda as a solution is being sought.
Retaliation
Somalia has been without a functioning government for close to two decades and has degenerated into a total lawlessness with armed militias and pirates causing havoc in the region.
On July 11 one of the militia groups operating in Somalia, the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabab carried out two bombings in the Ugandan capital, killing 76 people.
The group said the attacks were in retaliation for Uganda's leading role in the AU's mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Heads of state meeting from Sunday to Tuesday are expected to endorse a decision made earlier this month by IGAD to send an extra 2,000 troops to Mogadishu.
While Uganda, which already provides more than half of the existing contingent, has called on its neighbours to chip in, Kampala looks once again set to contribute the bulk of the reinforcements.
AMISOM's more than 6,000 troops are better trained and equipped than the militias but their mandate has restricted them to protecting Somalia's weak western-backed transitional government.
Source: KBC