Scribes suggest avenues for peace in Somalia

PICTURE FROM BBC
Tanzanian journalists who are in US for a special exchange program have suggested possible approaches that can serve as alternative to attainment of ceasefire of the long lasted conflict in Somalia.
The divergent views were made during discussion with top editorial staff of the Sun Journal newspaper held yesterday at the paper’s auditorium in Lewiston. The company’s publications regularly carry Somali related stories, partly because Lewiston is the famous place in US devoted for most Somali refugees.

“I think, International community should address their concerns (Somalis) then start a resettlement program, if at all the situation allows for that,” suggested Levina Kato who is a journalist with the Citizen Newspaper in Tanzania.

Kato cited an example of Tanzania, where, in collaboration with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) commenced a program of bringing refugees from Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi back to their home lands, despite the fact that some of them have stayed in Tanzania for more than 30 years.

“That option can not work because in their county (Somalia) they once had operation desert storm or operation back home, but it was difficult” counter argued Deus Ngowi. Ngowi is features editor with Rai newspaper.

He held that several diplomatic endeavors have been employed to stabilize the situation, including election of their leaders in Kenya but unfortunately the show ended with office bearers landing to different destinations far from their home.

Simon Kivamwo, the Chairperson of Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) negated the idea of employing diplomatic measures in dealing with the Somali situation, rather use of forceful approaches as an alternative.

“ They have to change mandate of operation, instead of peace keeping mission should be forceful mission where they can fire-back” commented Kivamwo and further claimed that the few ‘war mongers’ in Somalia could be easily contained if the peace keepers take such a stance.


On the contrary, Monica Luwondo, recommended for a thorough investigation to establish how, why and where the troublemakers get strong weapons; however she quashed the idea of using force to curb the problem.

Furthermore, Luwondo who woks with Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) advised countries hosting Somalis as refugees or immigrants to imitate what Tanzania did recently by offering them citizenship, after staying in the country for a good number of years.


“I see there is a hope for them to go back and say we have been in wars for many years but what have we gained? "The time has come for people to rethink,” pointed out Rachel Yusuph, a reporter with Channel 10 television.

She said lot of considerations need to be thought to make the efforts a success by incorporating a cross section of variables including religion, culture and traditions.

Somalia is located on the Horn of Africa and borders on Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. Today’ Somalia has resulted from the unification of the northern province of British Somaliland and the southeastern province of Italian Somaliland in 1960. Despite the separation of the Somali people during the colonial era, they remain one of the most homogenous and cohesive of Africa’s peoples.

According to the background obtained from the Flashpoints website, Somalia became independent in 1960 and Said Barre seized power in 1969, proclaiming a socialist regime, but ignoring any of the social and political foundations of socialism. Instead of developing the country, Barre launched military offensives against Ethiopia, attempting to annex the Ogaden plateau region in 1976. Ethiopia repelled the incursions with the aid of Cuban troops and Soviet support. The Soviets withdrew their support of Barre’;s regime.

The site further says, In the aftermath, Somalia’s economy deteriorated and a weakened Barre assumed authoritarian powers, as the nation plunged into internal discord. In 1991, Mohammad Ali Mahdi assumed power as factional fighting between clans divided the country, with General Mohammad Farah Aidid holding virtual control of the capital Mogadishu. Inter-clan fighting enveloped the nation while the common people starved. During the clan warfare an estimated 300,000 people died and 1.5 million were forced to flee to refuge in neighboring areas.

In response to the famine and human crisis, the UN sent a humanitarian mission and deployed a peacekeeping force in 1992. The heavily armed militias provoked clashes with UN troops and US troops initiated operations to capture Aidid and his lieutenants. This led to the so-called “black hawk down” incident in which 18 US soldiers were killed and subsequently the withdrawal of US forces. UN forces withdrew completely by 1995.

Since then, international efforts to construct a functioning government have continued and a transition government has been created, though few details of its authority and operation have been established. The warlords of Somalia’s clans have all lost influence and territory, but while they continue to oppose the new government, their power is greatly diminished. A general cease-fire is presumably in effect, but there are regular breeches as conflicts flare-up regularly.