|
Somalia crisis calls for urgent solution In the jaws of fate
2007-04-28 10:14:38
By Ritah Wanza
If you have been a keen follower of the news you may have noticed the carnage happening in Somalia.
All of a sudden the attention seems to have shifted from Darfur to Somalia and what is happening there is not good at all.
Artillery shells and mortar have been raining on Mogadishu for days leaving nearly 250 dead and thousands of residents trapped in the Somali capital with no food, no healthcare and no security.
Islamic insurgents have been clashing with Ethiopian troops backing Somali government forces. More than 320,000 Somalis have fled the capital since February, but tens of thousands of others remain trapped by the fighting, the worst humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged country`s recent history.
I was watching the news and what I saw was horrible, I could not believe it was happening in Somalia or even in Africa. Bodies lay rotting on the streets and the people were saying it was too dangerous to retrieve them.
When the crisis in Somalia started I was only seven years old and to date I have never understood what really happened. I can’t put my fingers on why the people are still fighting.
That was way back in 1991 when Somalia\'s president was overthrown and much of the country fell under the control of warlords and clan-based factions.
Sixteen years later, and with the backing of Ethiopian troops, the current interim administration is the 14th attempt to try to bring stability to the capital.
Earlier attempts to bring peace in Somalia have all failed and now we all have to shamelessly watch as the people of Somalia suffer.
I guess we are beginning to get used to violence… think of Darfur, Iraq, Gaza, and the West Bank.
I believe it’s high time we thought of Somalia and found a lasting solution to the crisis. Somalia is an African state and we should find an African solution to the crisis.
If we decide to keep waiting for the west to give us answers to the crisis then I think we are going to wait forever. African troops should be sent there.
It`s high time Africa took responsibility for continent Africa; we should unite and drive out all that is bad.
The reason why Africa is in the said state is because we never take responsibility for our own actions. We mess up and look up to the west to clean up our mess.
Innocent people are dying for nothing. Somalis themselves cannot solve or end the war without the help or intervention of the AU.
Yes, the AU is ill equipped but at least they should try first and if they fail then we can call up the UN.
The current troops in Somalia are about 1,700 Ugandan troops working with Ethiopian troops. The situation seems to be getting worse, with many blaming the Ethiopians for the current situation.
It`s difficult to know who is right and who is wrong but to solve the imbalance in Somalia, a cohesive social voice must be found.
And the ``voice`` should represent the general population and have their consensus. It is the people of Somalia that know what they need. Ethiopians don’t know what the wishes of the Somali people are.
It is un-African to see our African brothers and sisters dying in such a way, and we stay on the fence pointing fingers. An African problem can only be resolved by an African solution.
However, foreign assistance can be sought when necessary. At the end of this, Somalis themselves have to come up with solutions that work for them.
The AU and other foreign forces can only make sense when internal controls are in place and working.
Everyone believes Ethiopia is only after its own interests in Somalia.
I think the Ethiopian forces should withdraw and new negotiations should be launched between the disputing parties.
If not, the government and the Ethiopian forces will suffer heavily, as resistance is growing day by day.
The transition government seems to have no support in Somalia. The people of Somalia should be left to choose who they want to rule them.
If they are in favour of the Islamic courts union so be it. Why should they be forced to accept what the Ethiopians want?
mbinyaritah@yahoo.com
|
