Addis Ababa , October 9, 2006 – The expansion of the terrorist forces operating under the guise of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) will be a huge menace to the Horn and the continent if the international community does not interfere in the affairs of Somalia in time, a researcher stressed.

Speaking at a forum organized by East African Group to discuss the current situation in Somalia here Wednesday, Dr. Matt Bryden, who returned from Mogadishu recently after studying the activities of the UIC, said leaders of the Union have a strong ambition to expand to all corners of Somalia.

Dr. Bryden said the increasing financially support by some institutions is fuelling the crisis and contributing to the unbridled expansion of the UIC.

This creates favorable condition to groups like Al-Ittihad to realize their extremist agenda, he added.

According to Dr. Bryden, the problem in Somalia should not be ignored as an internal affair of the Somalis as the expansion of these forces will not only plunge Somalia into an endless turmoil, but will also destabilize its neighbors.

The international community should therefore give due consideration to the matter and make diplomatic or military intervention, he underlined.

The scholar further said the international community should impose economic sanction on the forces and pressurize all Somali forces, including the transitional government, to hold discussions, and pave the way for the deployment of peace keeping force.

Dr. Bryden also pointed out that it is important to invest on the democratically elected administration of Somaliland so as to help them resist the pressure of the extremists and come out as a model of democracy in Somalia.

If African Union and Arab League, which are directly engaged in Somalia, do not work hard to ensure peace in the country, the crisis to follow would not be simple, the scholar underscored.

He also expressed his fear that the region might sustain incalculable damage if the international community fails to take such a united interventionist measures.

A distinguished scholar and formerly a senior researcher with the International Crisis Group, Dr. Matt Bryden has presented a number of research papers on Somalia.

Ambassadors, diplomats, relevant intellectuals and politicians attended the half-day discussion forum.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald/WIC