SOMALIA: Islamic Courts Reject TFG Negotiations
The Pan-Arab Al Jazeera Television Network reports:
The leader of Somalia’s Islamist movement has rejected peace talks just hours after the country’s interim government agreed to meet in Sudan. Shaikh Hassan Dahir Aweys said the presence of Ethiopian troops sent to reinforce Somalia’s government had ruined any chance for peace. Aweys said: “Until Ethiopian troops leave Somali soil, we will never negotiate with the government.†Earlier on Tuesday, the government had agreed to attend unconditional peace talks in Khartoum.
This is a very dangerous move!
After this, the TFG becomes completely irrelevant unless of course Cabdullaahi Yuusuf asks the Ethiopians to complete their invasion through out the entire country. An impossible task if you ask me.
It is so sad to see the demise of the TFG so soon. So much time and resources were invested on its creation. However, both Cabdullaahi Yuusuf and Cali Geedi have no vision to lead the country as they could not see beyond myopic tribalist interests!
Shariif Xasan should dissolve the federal parliament as soon as possible and tell them to go home for now! A self respecting Somali parliamentarian cannot and should operate under Ethiopian occupation! Alternatively, the parliament could negotiate a peace deal the with Somali Union of Islamic Courts with the involvement of the TFG and then open the old parliament building in Mogadishu as an operational base. I am this could work well for Somalia and its people.
Bottom-line is that the TFG has failed. Hence, we must find an alternative way to govern the country!
Click here to view the full dispatch on Al Jazeera.