Somalia Talks: Kenya Protests

Foreign Affairs minister Raphael Tuju said yesterday it was sad the US had not invited Kenya, Inter-Governmental Authority and Development (Igad), African Union (AU) or even the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to today's meeting to discuss the worsening security situation in Somalia after the defeat of US-backed warlords by Islamist militia.

The situation in Somalia was of interest to countries in the region which had played a key role in working for peace in the region, Mr. Tuju said.

"It was therefore important that those working for peace in the region speak in one voice," the minister added.

However, the outgoing US ambassador, Mr. William Bellamy, said his Government supported Kenya's policies on Somalia.

He said America considered Kenya a key ally and wouldn't like to see the instability in Somalia affect the country.

Mr. Bellamy said separately: "We are here to assist Kenya against any instability from Somalia."

The ambassador said his government supported Kenya's decision to ban Somali warlords from visiting the country.

He spoke when he paid a courtesy call on Vice-President Moody Awori.

He said Kenya and the US were working together to ensure peace and reconciliation in the troubled country.

"We need to help Somalia start a serious process of reconciliation...it is not for us to choose who but it should be an all inclusive process," he added.

Mr. Tuju, who addressed Igad foreign ministers at the beginning of an extraordinary meeting of council of ministers, however welcomed the US move to convene the New York meeting.  

He said: "The unfolding scenario in Somalia is being observed with interest in the region. Unilateralism will not work to bring about peace in the region. The world cannot afford discordant voices as regards to the situation in Somalia."

Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi warned of a catastrophe, saying Somalis continued to die as the international community watched.

He called on Igad countries and the international community to assist the transitional government set up a force to maintain security.

"The future of Somalia is unknown now that Islamists have defeated the warlords and are expanding to other parts outside Mogadishu. We need support from Igad, the AU and the international community with or without lifting the arms embargo."

Mr. Gedi further warned that the chaos in Somalia would affect the whole region if support did not come quickly.

EU's commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Affairs Louis Michel called for partial lifting of the arms embargo to enable the federal government implement the stabilization and national security plan.

During the meeting, it emerged that warlords defeated in Mogadishu are likely to be banned from traveling around East Africa where they have extensive business and property interests.

Some of their assets may also be frozen as another punitive measure.

"There is a very high likelihood the ministers will impose a travel ban on the warlords in the whole region," Mr. Tuju told Reuters at the meeting.

Mr. Tuju reiterated that Kenya would ask other countries in the region to impose the ban.

He said: "We need to send the message that atrocities against innocent people in Somalia will not be tolerated. Kenya will not allow those involved to use our banks, schools, airports or hotels when they create hell in Somalia."

Those measures would be a further blow to the self-styled coalition of anti-terrorism warlords - widely believed to have been backed by the United States with huge sums of money - who lost control of the Somali capital in fighting this month.

Source: Nation Media

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