Somalia President Promises 'Peace and Dignity'
His biggest threat comes from the Islamist group Al Shabaab, which launched an intense insurgency after the Ethiopian invasion three years ago. The group's leadership has sworn allegiance to al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden and is now in control of most of Southern Somalia.
Initially, Al Shabaab declared war on Sheikh Sharif's government-in-waiting. But meetings were held in Mogadishu during the weekend to start negotiating an agreement, according to the new president and a spokesman for Al Shabaab.
"I went back to Somalia… to consult with them and to woo those who have, until now, been against peace to come into the fold," the president said. "I haven't directly met with Shabaab, but I have sent some people, emissaries, to talk to them, to stop the bloodshed and to put down their arms."
Abu Massor, who refers to himself as the spokesman for Al Shabaab, told ABC News through a translator that nearly all the leadership has agreed to accept the new president if he meets the group's conditions. The three most important of those conditions are that the country be ruled under traditional Shariah; that foreign forces, including the African Union and the U.N. peacekeeping troops, not be allowed on Somali soil; and that Al Shabaab members have significant roles in the new government.
"If he recognizes our presence on the ground, and he is going to accept Shariah law to be applied in the country, we are going to accept him," Massor said.
The president has not said whether he will meet Al Shabaab's demands, which could complicate his desire for better relations with the United States.
But forming a government that includes individuals who refuse to renounce their allegiance to al Qaeda and other extremist groups will not be acceptable to either Ethiopia or the United States. Al Shabaab is likely facing its own demands from Sheikh Sharif, who is walking a fine line between forming a government acceptable to Somali people of all clans and to the international community.
"He has to reach out to his own constituency and he has a lot of constituents to please, including the United States and Ethiopia," Davidson's Menkhaus said. "He also has to reach out to other factions for the government to work. It can be done but only if Al Shabaab adjusts its position to address the legitimate security concerns."
"If they don't, Somalia is going to plunge into new levels of trouble."
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