Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula, who met Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament of Somalia Adan Mohamed Nuur Madobe in Nairobi, said the east African nation is only willing to play a crucial role in rebuilding the Horn of Africa nation.
"We will not deploy any troops to Somalia but we are willing to contribute in building Somalia," Wetangula said, according to a press release from his office.
The minister said Kenya will continue training Somali customs officials, immigration officers, army personnel and border guards to help them safeguard their nation.
During the Tuesday night talks in Nairobi, Speaker Madobe said he will not be vying for the presidency of his war-torn country.
Madobe, who is acting Somali president, told Wetangula he was not interested in running his lawless homeland but "will respect the transitional charter and follow its stipulations in electing anew president."
"The acting president has assured of his commitment to oversee a smooth election to replace Abdullahi Yusuf," said the release.
President Yusuf formally announced his resignation late December in a statement before the parliament and cabinet members present in Baidoa.
Yusuf told parliament on Dec. 29 that he has handed in his resignation to the speaker of parliament who will take over his duties until a new president is elected.
Yusuf blamed the international community for failing to sufficiently support his government to allow it to rule effectively.
The United Nations-backed government controls only the capital city of Mogadishu and the parliament seat of Baidoa.
Last month, Yusuf faced tough criticism for his attempt to fire Prime
Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, a move which parliament rejected.
SOURCE: Xinhua, Wednesday, January 07, 2009