Somalia’s embattled president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said his government has done substantial efforts in changing the scenario in the war-torn country, thanking African Union peacekeeping troops for its help while urging International Community to do more for his government.

In an address to the AU summit in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, Ahmed said opposition groups have refused to join the peace and reconciliation process. 

“AMISOM troops plays central role in Mogadishu’s peace, and also helps the government in the fight against the armed opposition, which oppose peace and statehood,” he said while adding that Al-Qaeda is involve in the fight against his government.

Ahmed said the country’s military is prepared and reformed to make sure that it plays crucial role in restoring peace and stability.

He asked the troop contributing countries to complete peacekeeping troop’s deployment as soon as possible and also urged Arab League to train the government forces, arguing that the situation in the war-torn country is unpredictable at the moment.

On humanitarian issues, President Ahmed urged international humanitarian aid agencies to return and help the impoverished population, which is in dire need of assistance.

Economically, he said his government is doing well in terms of making sure that the country realizes economic growth, citing also the country’s 2010 budget.  

Ahmed has recently celebrated first anniversary since taking office in 2009 and many, including Somali lawmakers are critical of his government’s achievement, which they termed it as minimal compared to previous governments.

GAROWE ONLINE