The International Failures
in Somalia
UN and Arab League
By Aweis Issa
The establishments of the United Nations and the Arab League organization
were based upon high ideals and good intentions. Unfortunately, in the
last several years, these organizations have not provided countries
like Somalia with tangible and positive outcomes.
In the last seventeen years, the United Nations Head Office for Somalia
was based in Nairobi, Kenya. The Somali expatriates employed with the
UN are the largely people who are related to the Somali warlords and
Islamists. The UN office in Nairobi responsible for Somali affairs is
paid for by the international community and the real work is based in
Somalia. The costs associated with having the Somali UN office based
in Kenya are huge, especially considering the expenditures for travel
to Somalia. This includes air travel between Nairobi and Mogadishu,
without solving the problems in Mogadishu before flying back to Nairobi.
Somali is a member of the Arab League, and yet Somalia has not received
any technical support nor reconciliation offers for peace from the Arab
League. The Arab League provides money to the Islamists, including the
building and funding of religious schools (madrasas). There have been
historical tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, often based upon religion.
In Ethiopia, there are approximately half a million Somali refugees,
including members of my family. I have not received information that
the Somali refugees were discriminated upon because of their beliefs.
The Islamists and the Somali Transitional Government need to respect
the rights of the Somali people, and the rights of its neighbours.
The African Union, especially Ethiopia and Uganda, have participated
in initiatives to promote peace in Somalia. Recently, I was in Somalia,
and I have seen the results of the Ethiopian and Uganda armed forces’.
The Ethiopian and Ugandan Armed Forces are upholding international law
in Somalia, and are not participating in committing crimes against humanity.
The UN and the Arab League are accusing the African Union of committing
crimes against humanity in Somalia, which is false.
The interference of the United Nations and Arab League in regards to
Somalia is not providing Somalis with a peaceful solution to its current
instability. The Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles has contributed a
significantly to creating peace and stability in Somalia.
Part I of this series by Aweis Issa from October 2007
Part II of this series by Aweis Issa from November 2007
Aweis at the airport in Somalia, earlier this year.
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