ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia Feb 1 (Garowe Online) - The newly elected president of Somalia's 'unity government,' Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, flew to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for the first time Sunday, Radio Garowe reports.
President Sheikh Sharif arrived in Addis Ababa to attend the African Union's annual summit, which is held at the continental body's headquarters in Ethiopia.
Sheikh Sharif, new president of Somalia
The summit will focus on many issues, including Libyan President Muammar Qadafi's "United States of Africa" plan, improving infrastructure across the continent, and resolving regional conflicts, including Somalia and the Congo.
"The President will inform African leaders about new changes in Somalia, and he will specifically address the issue of [AU] peacekeepers in Mogadishu," said a source in Djibouti.
Somalia's ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr. Said Yusuf Nur, said Somalia will be discussed at the AU summit but admitted that the talks will not give special focus to the 18-year conflict in the Horn of Africa country.
Sheikh Sharif, the former leader of the Islamic Courts, was elected president at the 15th peace conference held for Somalia since the collapse of the last effective government in 1991.
The northern regions of Somaliland and Puntland have refused to recognize him as Somali president, while Al Shabaab militants who dominate southern Somalia have vowed to continue the war.
The AU planned to deploy an 8,000-strong peacekeeping force in Somalia, but only 3,500 soldiers from Uganda and Burundi are currently deployed in Mogadishu.
Source: Garowe Online
