Somalia Contact Group urges "unrestricted access" for humanitarian relief

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer. (State Dept. photo - Janine Sides)

By Charles W. Corey

Washington, June 17, 2006 – Citing a "very dynamic" situation in Somali, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer says there is a critically important need for dialogue and the international community has "been engaged" to address the issue.

Briefing reporters June 16 at the State Department, Frazer said, "We have to reserve judgment about … the ultimate intent of the Islamic Courts Union [ICU]," which recently claimed to have taken control of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, following weeks of fighting.

Continuing, Frazer noted that at a June 15 inaugural meeting in New York of the Somalia Contact Group, the United States stressed, "It's critically important for the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFI) [Somalia's nominal government] and the chairman of the ICU to begin a dialogue to … decide for themselves what role the ICU would play."

Frazer described the TFI the only form of government that can be found in Somalia, which she called a "failed state."

Initial indications, she said, were that the ICU was not interested in taking over the government or even being in government.   But she called the situation there "dynamic, [and] fluid."

Somalia has lacked an effective central government since early 1991, when largely clan-based tribal leaders overthrew President Mohamed Siad Barre, a Marxist dictator who seized control in a 1969 military coup.   An interim government formed with United Nations support has not been able to enter Mogadishu, and instead has been stuck in Baidoa, about 240 kilometers away.

SOMALIA CONTACT GROUP

The United States joined with other interested states and international organizations in convening the Somalia Contact Group "to coordinate our common efforts and support positive developments in Somalia," according to a June 15 communiqué released by the group.

The communiqué from the group -- which met in New York -- said the situation in Somalia represents a "range of challenges" related to the humanitarian and socio-economic conditions, governance, human rights, security and terrorism factors there.

The goal of the Somalia Contact Group is "to encourage positive political developments and engagement with actors inside Somalia," according to its communiqué.

The Contact Group said it "will seek to address the humanitarian issues of the Somali people, establish effective governance and stability and address the international community's concern regarding terrorism.   There is an urgent need for increased humanitarian assistance and improved protection of the civilian population."

The document also called on "all parties to give unrestricted access for relief agencies to vulnerable communities."

Members of the Contact Group include the European Union, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Tanzania, the United Kingdom and the United States.   Other interested parties such as the United Nations, the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the League of Arab States will be invited to participate as observers, according to the communiqué.

Briefing reporters June 14, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States is ready to work with all parties to promote peace and the re-establishment of effective governance in Somalia.

"We are committed to working with our local and international partners to assist in addressing our common concerns regarding terrorism, alleviating the growing humanitarian emergency in Somalia and helping the people of Somalia regain political and economic stability," McCormack said.

TERRORISM CONCERNS

Additionally, the State Department's coordinator for counterterrorism, Henry Crumpton, and Vice Admiral John Scott Redd, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, briefed lawmakers June 13 on the latest developments in Somalia.

At a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Redd cautioned the committee not to make premature conclusions with regard to developments in Somalia.   "I would not jump to the conclusion … that al-Qaida now owns Somalia, by any stretch of the imagination," he told the lawmakers.  

Redd was referring to recent developments in which local tribal leaders were driven out of Mogadishu by Islamists believed to be harboring al-Qaida operatives.

"Somalia is clearly one of the key areas … which we worry about and is an ungoverned state," he added.   "The bottom-line objective," he said, "is to deny that [Somalia] as an effective safe haven for al-Qaida or for terrorism in general."

Crumpton told the lawmakers that in addition to working to deny al-Qaida a safe haven in Somalia, the United States also is seeking to "work with a very weak, nascent, transitional government to see if they can gain traction."   The United States also is seeking to provide humanitarian relief and assistance to the Somali people, he said.   In 2006, the United States has provided more than $80 million in humanitarian assistance to Somalia, primarily in the form of food and health-related assistance.

Crumpton classified Somalia as a "fractured political entity" with competing, conflicting tribal leadership.

"A lot depends on the Somali people themselves," he said.   "Probably the most immediate challenge [is] to see if this fledgling government can establish some degree of legitimacy and some power.   And right now they have very little."

Source: USINFO, U.S. Department of State