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SOMALIA: MOGADISHU SECURITY INITIATIVE ON TRACK May 25, 2005

NAIROBI - Anarchic Mogadishu – a town of approximately 5.5 million inhabitants with as much arsenal as its population, has tumbled many interim governments in Somalia since it fell to marauding armed militia in 1991, when former military dictator Gen Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled.

In March this year, 60 Hawiye MPs comprising 5 warlords from Mogadishu converged in Nairobi to endorse a plan aimed at taming Mogadishu, many Somali’s were optimistic. Three months later the warlords look to have swallowed their pride to make true their word.

On May 15, officials of three prominent warlords from the big Hawiye clan who also hold cabinet positions said 600 of their fighters and 54 battlewagons – flatbed trucks mounted with heavy machineguns or with anti-aircraft guns fired horizontally – had been moved to two camps outside the city.

Today, the number has increased threefold and a new camp has just been opened. “We have close to 2000 militiamen undergoing training. A new camp was opened today at Ged timir with 70 battlewagons” Omar Mahamud Mohamed – A Minister and warlord commonly known as “Omar Finnish” said. Ged timir is 18 km northeast of Mogadishu.

“Everything is going as planned, the initiative is on track. A total of 156 battlewagons have now been removed from Mogadishu. The militia are happy and have adapted to life in the camp,” said Omar Finnish.

Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan praised women groups, civil society organizations and the various factions for generously contributing towards the initiative.

“Women groups and the civil society have played a crucial role. Many Somali living abroad have also promised to contribute. I wish to urge the international community to support this initiative,” Sharif Hassan said.

Although President Abdulahi Yussuf has acknowledged efforts by the faction leaders to improve security in the Somali capital, he still believes a lot needs to be done before he can move there.

According to his spokesman, Yussuf Baribari, the President wants the militia to be disarmed, and the weapons handed to a neutral force like the AU, rather than just gathering them into camps.

The Somali Transitional Federal Government -- formed at peace talks in Kenya last year -- is at loggerheads on where it should base itself. President Abdullahi Yussuf and his supporters want the government to move to Baidoa and Jowhar. They believe Mogadishu is too dangerous.

On the other hand, Somali Speaker, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan and powerful warlords allied to him, who also hold cabinet positions in the government want the new government in Mogadishu, their ceremonial capital. They accuse the President for contradicting their interim charter by proposing to move to Baidoa and Jowhar.