ISSUE 235

By Namrud Berhane

Addis Ababa, July 17, 2006 – In working with regional groups and the international community, the US accepts the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) as Somalia's only legitimate governing body, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer said. "We speak with one voice, I believe, except for Eritrea, in opposing an extremist Islamist takeover of the government in Somalia.

The TFG has been challenged in asserting itself in Somalia. Unable to move to Mogadishu which now is under the control of the Council of Islamic Courts of Somalia (CICS), the TFG is now even threatened by the latter of losing its seat in Baidoa.

In the hope of bolstering the transitional government's strength, the African Union (AU), the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)and the United Nations (UN) and the Arab League deliberated on the matter and came to a consensus that a peace mission needs to be sent into Somalia and that the arms embargo imposed on the country be eased.

Frazer also told a senate subcommittee that the UN, AU and the Arab League view the TFG as a legitimate governing body.

Eritrea, however, which has been supporting the CICS and more specifically the extremist elements, has explicitly stated its support for the Islamic Courts and challenged accusations of terrorism against the fundamentalist groups within the council.

"If it is the issue of 'terrorism' that has been the topic of discussion regarding the Somali issue, solid evidence should be presented to prove this as is the case in London, Madrid and New York. Otherwise, it is completely unacceptable if it is meant to engage the Somali people in a cycle of endless crisis," Isaias said.

Ethiopia has said that the Al-Ithihad elements which now are also in position of leadership in the CICS were a threat to its national security and cites a series of attacks in Addis Ababa in the late 90s.

An arms embargo monitoring group mandated by the UN Security Council reported that Eritrea has been arming Hassan Dahir Aweys - the founder of Al-Itihad Al-Islami - and other Ethiopian ethnic dissident groups operating from within Somalia.

Eritrea in what it terms as "a brotherly obligation" to the people of Somalia has been vigorously lobbying for support around the region.

Isaias and Eritrea's military officials have been paying visits and holding talks with regional counterparts.

On Monday, Eritrea's defense minister was in Djibouti holding talks with the President of that country and its military officials. There are no official reports, however, that the meeting had to do with Somalia.

Isaias has also been paying visits to Yemen and Sudan holding talks on the issue of Somalia.

Isaias claims that discussions related to Somalia were held within the framework Eritrea has been lobbying for.

Yemen has offered to mediate in the talks between the TFG and the CICS.

The CICS is strongly opposed to the idea of a peace mission being sent into Somalia.

Source: Reporter