|
|
|
|
| Last Updated: Sep 3, 2008 - 9:22:44 AM |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Djibouti Conference: An Opportunity that Should Not Be Missed
13 May 13, 2008 - 6:54:25 PM
|
The tragic situation in Somalia has attracted a renewed global attention. And as a
concerned
Somali citizen, I share my people’s desire for the restoration of peace
and stability in their home country. This short note is intended to
encourage opposing sides of Somali conflict currently in Djibouti to
show a reasonable level of national responsibility in a time of grave
crisis and become serious to bring about a peaceful settlement.
Peace is the essence of life; the key to
development and dignified life. Somali people generally, south in
particular, have been deprived of this basic right for the better part
of the last 18 years with the exception of the few months in 2006 under
UIC. Everyone knows whom were (still are though not readily visible)
the root cause of this national tragedy; dark and evil forces of
warlords, who erected all kinds of stumbling blocks towards
reconciliation and commitment to peaceful settlement. And as a direct
consequence, Somalia today is under virtual occupation. Globally,
Somalia, once a proud nation, has earned an unenviable image of being a
place of human degradation. C
onditions
have further deteriorated significantly since the invasion of Ethiopian
forces. In addition to bullets, people are dying for easily treatable
diseases like malaria, diarrhea, etc. More people will definitely
suffer from malnutrition as a result of abject poverty exacerbated by
global food crisis.
To emerge
from such a disastrous situation, there must be wise men and women who
can get their act together to formulate Somali-owned conflict
resolution approach. There is a growing consensus among Somali affairs
commentators that while international community can, to some extent,
act as facilitators; it will not be able to solve our tragic situation.
Somalis alone can solve their problems. We should not be wasting our
time and limited resources to blame others, including our neighbors
namely Ethiopia. What is needed is a genuine attempt to device strategy
(ies) to solve our internal conflict and tribal or ideological
divisions.
Dear participants, regardless of your position or
political views, ask yourselves and reflect upon the following
questions:- Why in the first place international community did not rush
to try and safe Somalia from faltering following the collapse of the
central government, the same way they did with our neighboring
Ethiopia? Why prominent people like Kofi Anan have not been sent to
bolster this seemingly important peace conference in Djibouti, the same
way he was sent to Kenya to help resolve recent political conflict? Why
Ms. Frazer and Ms. Rice are not endorsing it? More importantly, why
Eritrea is reportedly amassing her troops at the Djibouti border? Is it
to intimidate that small nation because they host potential Somali
peace conference? More relevant perhaps is the unexpected position of
Asmara group; that they did not come to Djibouti to meet the so-called
TFG but to meet international community.
These are all critical
questions and in the quest for suitable answers perhaps lies
understanding the nature of our problems in relation to regional and
international dimensions. We, Somalis, should realize that the constant
interferences (political or militarily) of regional governments with
obvious conflicting interests will only protract our people’s suffering.
The Djibouti conference presents yet another unique opportunity to study possible ways to achieve a peaceful settlement.
There is a sense of optimism that the meeting could help end the violent conflict that gripped our nation. We strongly encourage all the concerned parties not to miss this opportunity, however remote the chances of success may appear.
Asmara
alliance must drop their key demand of not meeting with TFG delegate
until Ethiopian troops leave Somali soil. Such a precondition is not
helpful at all. It is not practical either. Dialogue is the
only way we can get out of our present mess. If and when we Somalis put
our house in order, Ethiopia will certainly not be able to sustain its
troops in Somalia even one more day.
The author is a
Somali-Canadian, a former graduate of McGill University, Montreal. He
now teaches at Kuwait University and can be reached at E-mail: ainanh63@yahoo.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
