Somalia is a sovereign state. As such,there is need for that status quo to remain.When the Ethiopians came, initially,it was for the purpose of restoring order in that country.It must be remembered that Somalia has had no central government since the overthrow of the last dictator Muhammad Siad Barre in 1991.If the purpose for going to Somalia has been achieved, then there is no need for the Ethiopian army to continue staying on in Somalia.But if,in the Somali governments view that purpose has not been achieved, then there should a timetable for the orderly evacuation of the Ethiopian army as soon as possible, so that the sovereignity of the Somali government should be maintained at all costs.

Hi, Collegues

somalia is and will remain soverign country and ethopian troops come to the request of TFG, but the Question is what about if the somalis (TFG and ICU ) agree on timetable for the Eithopian withdrawl ( Mandate of Withdrawl) as requested by the Moderate Islamic courts Leader ( Sheikh Sharif)?

my be all of us assume that the answer is that the situation will be better and we might have a lasting peace.

that is not on the table right now, in my perspective the Militant wing of ICU ( Alshabab) psych is too difficult to understand and we might see tomorow equating Sheikh sharif with meles Zenawi, that is predictable currently as they are distancing themselfevs from the ( the Asmara Alliance).

so please the most divisive issue is not ethopia ( present or Absent) but the next step of Alshabab ( Alshabab of today to the point of insanity are deviod of the semblence of any political agenda, pure islamic qualities, want to destroy any national reconcilitation process if there might be, and are burden on somalia and its future.

Abdikadir

ETHIOPIA: "Eight million need assistance, 07 Feb 2008 12:09:50 GMT Source: IRIN

NAIROBI, 7 February 2008 (IRIN) - Ethiopia experienced a record harvest during the meher season that runs from June and October but pockets of poor food production across the country have still left millions of people needing food assistance, according to a food security update.

Citing the Somali region in particular, the update issued by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net) on 6 February stated that poor rains during the deyr season, from October to November, exacerbated extreme food insecurity in parts of the region.

This was when the dry season was in progress and the peak hunger season had set in. Various other factors, including restrictions on movement and trade, locust infestations and limited humanitarian access had exacerbated matters.

"Despite record meher-season production, about eight million chronically food insecure people and a significant number of acutely food insecure people ... will require food or cash assistance in 2008," the January report stated.

Production during the meher season is one of the most important determinants of food security in Ethiopia, especially in the crop-producing areas that cover most of the country, except the mainly pastoral Afar and Somali regions, and the lowlands of Oromiya region.

An assessment by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme estimated the meher crop was about 45 percent higher than the past five-year average.

"This represents the fourth consecutive bumper meher harvest in Ethiopia," the report noted. "Yet, despite good overall production, pockets of poor production have been identified across the country as a result of weather-related hazards."

In the Somali region, the update noted, the deyr rains performed poorly across seven zones that depend on precipitation for regeneration of pasture, replenishment of water sources and crop production.

"In Gode, Warder, Korahe, Degahabur and Fik the situation is worse because the 2007 main season, which occurs between March and May, performed poorly," it noted, adding that poor water availability and abnormal livestock migrations had already been reported in several areas.

"In all these areas, pasture is scarce, milk production and livestock body conditions have also started to deteriorate," the update said. "Reduced milk production will have a serious impact on child malnutrition."

Citing a report issued by the Somali Region Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Bureau in December indicating that about 745,000 people in the region could meet their minimum food needs and thus faced a survival deficit, the update noted that these people will require immediate food assistance from January to June 2008.

Market access for agro-pastoralists had also been affected by restrictions on trade and movement in parts of Somali region that began in mid-June 2007.

"Although the movement of commercial food into restricted zones continues especially in the main woreda towns, the supply of food is inadequate especially in rural areas and prices are beyond the purchasing power of most consumers," the update noted.

The restrictions on trade and movement had also affected income sources for poor households, including labour and the sale of charcoal and firewood, because demand had fallen.

© IRIN. All rights reserved. More humanitarian news and analysis: http://www.IRINnews.org

Whoever thought that Somalis would wellcome the invading Ethiopians with roses, must have also thought that Iraqis would do the same with the invading Marines. But the sad truth is neither has came true. The christian dominated Ethiopia is and has always been the arch enemy of somalis and this will not likely to change any time soon. This is becouse of two reason. But what is most dangerous in Zenawis adventure is NOT sending his army to Mogadisho but rather how he distort the make up of Ethiopia. In his recent Interview with The Guardian, Zenawi identified Ethiopia as being "Orthodox Christian" country, denying that more than 50% of Ethiopians are Muslims. Using such terms is just playing victimhood by sending emotional appeal to christains around the world. Rodavan Karadzic, the once leader of Bosnian serbs did that by claiming that he was defending Europe from muslim fundamentals from Bosnia. That ended up as we know the massacres of Sarajevo and Srebrenica. Now Zenawi is repeating that history, by claiming that his Christian government is a forefront of the war against terror (Muslims) by massacring the residents of Mogadisho. This will eventually radicalize the Muslims both in Somalia and Ethiopia itself and will lead the break up of Ethiopia itself and Zenawi sought as a fugitive in HAAG war crime tribunals.

Well said i could not agree with you any more ethiopia was trying to invade somalia more than 3000 years and the only people who fight and defend were the somali people. as the history tell us ethiopia can't face in a war with the somalis unless Ethiopia get help from the christian countries. the somali people will unite and kick the invaders out of their country

Ahmed eegge

to be honest with you we,ethiopia are not interesting about your country. i am sure that you have the right to solve your country problem by yourself and you have the capacity to do it. for me still it does not clear why our soldiers stay in your country. i, with my family and most of our country people do not like the interference of our country poletical leader. for your information, we are pushing the government to take out our soldiers. we are close neighbours and hoping that we will do it for the future,too.i do assure you that we are not invader and you can check our past history, if you wish to know more. thankyou for your time.

Ahmed eegge, hahhaah. you are traying to convience us that ethiopia coundn't invade somalia unless other christian countries support it. Well said, haahhah. Please read the book you have read again. There is no even a single book which support your argument. Anyhow, we are in somali and assaign who ever can be spy for us as government official, ahhaahah. We are kicking your ass and administer you by an "invisible hands". And we will continue doing it. Ahmed,if you have a capacity to make as withdrow from somali try it and you will get your reward including bonus. Do not externalize your inability to other party. You need to asses your capacity first if not good for you.

Many countries who were invaded by western colonozers (like Britain and France) had been liberated dozens of years ago. It is surprising that Ethiopia, one of the poorest conutries on earth, has been successful to colonoze Somalia. It is surprising that the so called TFG is assisting Ethiopia to colonize its own country. I havenot heard the existence of any government of that type. This is not a real government rather it is an absolute pubbet of Meles Zenawi. I am an Ethiopian , but I don't support such unfair occupation of others country. By the way Ethiopia not only colonized Somalia but also she colonozed Oromia, Eritrea and other lands which were not her part before some years. DAWN WITH ETHIOPIA!!!!!!!!!