Garowe Online (Garowe)
Yusuf Ali
27 February 2008
Baidoa — Somalia's top leaders held a closed-door meeting with visiting Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin Wednesday regarding the security situation and the path to national reconciliation, sources said.
President Abdullahi Yusuf, Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein and parliament Speaker Adan "Madobe" Mohamed flew from the capital Mogadishu to the south-central town of Baidoa, 250km northwest of the capital, to welcome the Ethiopian delegation.
Security was tightened in and around Baidoa as the Somali government leaders landed, with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Mesfin and his delegation arriving afterwards.
No word emerged from the private meetings and the Ethiopian government delegation flew back to Addis Ababa in the afternoon.
But government sources confidentially told Garowe Online that disagreements have surfaced among Somali leaders regarding the proper reconciliation approach.
President Yusuf has maintained his hardline stance on negotiating with "extremist groups," whom he considers terrorists intent on overthrowing his Ethiopian-backed interim government.
By contrast, Prime Minister Nur Adde has repeatedly appealed to all members of the opposition to negotiate with the government in the elusive search for lasting peace in Somalia.
Speaker Madobe supports the Prime Minister's initiative, Garowe Online has learned.
It is not clear whether or not the leaders' personal differences have been resolved yet. Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the United Nations' Special Representative for Somalia, also arrived in Baidoa today.
Somalia's interim government, established in 2004, has struggled to assert its authority across the war-ravaged nation. Personal divisions at the top helms of power has contributed to the government's lack of progress, in terms of restoring security and genuinely pursuing reconciliation to end the country's 17-year conflict.
The government's armed opposition, led by Islamist insurgents, have shown no desire to engage in peace talks as long as Ethiopian troops remain on Somali soil.
An Islamist-led insurgency, mainly in Mogadishu, has killed more than 6,500 people and displaced half of the capital's civilian population, according to the UN and human rights groups.
On Wednesday, an Ethiopian army truck was blown up in Mogadishu by a landmine, witnesses said. The vehicle was "completely destroyed," but casualties could not be independently confirmed.
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Truly speaking it is difficult to say the TFG of Somalia is a government at all. At present there is no legitimate government in Somalia. What is legitimacy mean? Does it mean what USA says legitimate is legitimate. The majority of the Somalia population doesnot accept the TFG as their government. So bringing all Somalia parties (no exception) into negotiotion table and removing the Ethiopian Army from Somalia Soil is the only means to end the crisis in Somalia.
Who is to blame for the killing of the Somalis? I am sick and tired of reading this phrase in all westren and thier collaborating news agencies " The insurgency has killed more than 6500 people and displaced about 60% of Mugadishu's residents". WHO killed people? The Ethiopians? or the resistors? We all know who invaded Somalia, and Who has the artilary guns, tanks, and katusha Rockets. Not only they have these weapons, but they used them intentionaly, willingly, and eagerly to kill, wound, and displace as many people as they can. So stop using such stupid, unfounded… [Read Full Text]
As an Ethiopian, I believe the FM is in Somalia to be a participant concerning the Ethiopian Army that is in Somalia helping the Somalee people and also to look after the long term interest of Ethiopia and the region. Call it what you will but if you have an ounce of self conciousness and love of Africa, you would have known that it is indeed a good thing for the Somalee people to work with Ethiopans rather than our cousins in the middle east or Far easterners (China, Pakistan and the like). Trust me, they will eat your… [Read Full Text]
the problem with TFG is that it is not an independent intity from Ethiopian government.therfore it is difficult for any leader of TFG to decide what is good for Somalia.every time that important issue is discussed F.M of ETHIOPIA wHOULD COME AND TELL THE SOMALI LEADERS WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.Therefore no use to have TFG Ethiopia is the mastr in somalia as long as its millitary forcs are in somalia.
In the first place, I don't think it is proper that the three top Somali leaders come to "welcome" the Ethiopian FM all the way from Mogadishu to Baidoa.
Second, it seems that it is the president that doesn't cget along with the rest of his colleagues.
Third, if the Ethiopian generals are slapping on the face of the Somali president what more shall we wait?