Bartamaha (Mogadishu):- East African regional security and development bloc, Igad, has endorsed a decision to extend the mandate of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) for another three years.
On the sidelines of the African Union Summit, the seven-member bloc unanimously endorsed the proposal and mandated the Somalia parliament to consider it.
The TFG mandate was to end on August 2011.
Somali foreign minister Mohamed Abdulahi Omar told reporters in Addis Ababa his government will table the proposal to the Somali cabinet and parliament for approval.
The extension aims to help the transitional government to establish a full security plan to gain a control of its territory.
Mr Abdulahi Omar also urged all Somalis at home and in Diaspora to contribute for reconstruction and stability of the country.
“Forget the bad experience of the last 20 years. We should turn away from hostility and war,” he said.
Earlier, both the AU and the UN delegation had signaled their deep dissatisfaction on the TFG’s performance in ensuring stability in Somalia.
AU Commission chief Jean Ping openly expressed his disappointment on the Somalia government particularly with regard to President Sheik Sharif Ahmed.
Diplomatic sources in Addis Ababa said Igad’s proposal was sponsored by the United States to avoid any power vacuum in Somalia.
TFG’s Sheik Sharif Ahmed held a closed-door discussion with visiting Obama administration delegation in Addis Ababa.
The US officials included Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson and National Security Council Senior Director for Africa Mary Yates.
The officials expressed their concern to President Sharif about the eroded legitimacy and authority of the transitional government.
Since 1990 Somalia has been consumed by anarchy and civil war.
The first transitional government was set up in 2004 and the current president was elected in 2009.
The TFG however remains weak and has failed to impose its authority in most parts of Somalia.
Somalia earns more than $1.5 Billion every year from its Diaspora population.
In 2009 Africa Union sent peace keeping troops to Somalia to help the transitional government of Somalia.
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Source:-africareview.
