Djibouti appeals for inclusive dialogue in Somalia
Addressing members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh said it was imperative to initiate inclusive and constructive dialogue to return the Horn of African nation to normalcy.
"The situation that prevails today in Somalia and the relative calm observed despite the ongoing attacks against the AMISOM forces reminds us daily that in order to consolidate peace it is imperative to initiative an inclusive and constructive dialogue," President Guelleh told the 20-member bloc attending the two-day summit in Nairobi.
Guelleh appealed for restraint from all parties in the lawless nation and called for the opening of dialogue between warring parties as the Horn of African nation prepares to hold the much- awaited reconciliation conference mid next month.
"Securing the capital Mogadishu and the imperious necessity to succeed at the conference previewed on June 16, reconciling a large common consents, do not constitute in our view sufficient in contributing towards the salvation of the Somali nation," he said.
Guelleh called on members of Africa's largest trading bloc to help resolve the crisis unfolding in Somalia to enable it embark on reconstruction and development of the war-ravaged nation.
He lamented that there could be no military solution to the divisions that have persisted in Somalia for so long, adding that the suffering of the population has continued at unacceptable cost to all Somalis for more than 15 years.
"We believe that it is finally time to help Somalia and it is people rebuild their life. We also welcome constructive initiatives that aim to help the federal government and all concerned parties to find common ground for their differences," said Guelleh.
He called for an emergency plan that will assist the war ravaged nation which has been without a central rule for more than 16 years conclude the political process.
"Today I make this play and call on you and all international institutions without exceptions as well as to all countries that have the financial and human means to join onboard and help us facilitate the creation of a favorable environment for the launching of the inclusive dialogue," he said.
The transitional government has been under intense pressure to reach out to moderate members of the ousted Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC) as a way of expansion its territorial control.
Somalia's war-infested Mogadishu has witnessed near daily attacks from insurgents believed to be members of the ousted Islamists who were ousted from Mogadishu by the Ethiopian-backed transitional government troops early this year.
Somalia has had no operational government for more than a decade, following the collapse in 1991 of the government of the late president Muhammad Siad Barre. Civil war erupted soon after Barre was toppled, as various factions leaders fought for power.
Source: Xinhua
