Envoy: Somalia Has Best Chance for Peace

Despite a recent surge in violence, Somalia has its best opportunity in years to emerge from anarchy and the world must help the interim government assert its authority, a top U.N. envoy said Thursday.

Eric Laroche, U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, acknowledged that insurgent attacks have risen steadily in the Somali capital since Ethiopian troops helped the U.N.-backed government drive out an Islamic militia in December.

But he insisted the vast majority of Somalis were tired of violence and have ignored calls to wage jihad, or holy war, against Ethiopian troops that helped drive out the Islamic militia.

"If you look at the data, the number of shellings is increasing by the day, yes it's true. But that's not a good reason not to do anything," Laroche told reporters. "People are tired, so that's an opportunity."

Laroche, who spent much of last year in the Horn of Africa country, said most Somalis seem willing to accept the authority of the first government with international recognition to take control of Mogadishu in years.

He acknowledged, nonetheless, that Somalia's government - with U.N. help - must quickly prove it can establish order in a country that has not seen an effective national government in more than 15 years.

Laroche outlined several priorities for the U.N. mission, starting with restoring security and helping thousands of people forced to flee their homes by the violence. Next, the country must rebuild its security forces, provide basic services and bolster its governmental institutions.

He acknowledged the challenge was daunting.

Officials have been recruiting retired officers to help rebuild the police force, but they have no means of transportation, no communications equipment and only this week received their first batch of 3,000 uniforms, Laroche said.

The interim government, meanwhile, is still based in the town of Baidoa despite having regained control of the capital. After decades of fighting, the 77 government buildings in Mogadishu are pockmarked and crumbling, leaving public servants with no place to work, Laroche said.

Somalia has been mired in anarchy since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on one another. The transitional government was formed in 2004 with U.N. help in hopes of restoring order, but it has struggled to assert its authority.

Among the biggest security challenges is demobilizing and disarming Somalia's fighters - for which there is still no plan. Without demobilizing fighters, Laroche warned, "having a (police) force is nothing."

The U.N. Security Council has approved the deployment of an African peacekeeping force in Somalia expected to reach a level of 8,000 troops.

On Thursday, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said troops from his country who serve in the force would not disarm militias. Somali authorities should do it themselves, he said.

Laroche emphasized small accomplishments, including the hiring of 7,000 people to clean Mogadishu's streets and several reconciliation meetings between warring factions. In one such meeting, 250 people returned for talks the day after a mortar struck their building, he said.

"I think Somalia is at turning point today," Laroche said. "If you don't believe that the (government's) institutions are the key solution, you admit that you want to go back into chaos for another 15 years."

 

Source: AP, Feb 28, 2007