US seeks peacekeepers for Somalia

[Diyeeshaha_Tolka]

The US secretary of state has asked for more African countries to send peacekeepers to Somalia to put an end to a conflict that has killed thousands of civilians.

Speaking from Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, Condoleeza Rice said an African force should to be set up to take pressure off Ethiopian forces currently operating in Somalia.

"We do believe the Ethiopian forces should not have to stay in Somalia past a certain point, and that will require peacekeeping forces, very robust peacekeeping force, and so that will be part of my discussions here," Rice said on Wednesday.

Rice is meeting African leaders amid growing US unease concerning worsening security and failing peace deals in a number of countries on the continent.

An African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Somalia comprises of just 1,800 Ugandan troops, so far no other African countries have sent contingents.
Somalia security

Ethiopia sent troops to Somalia late last year to support the transitional government against the Islamic Courts Union which controlled large areas of the country. It is not part of the AU force.

"She [Rice] could actually achieve a whole lot if she wanted to. The most important issue right now in Ethiopia is the severely deteriorated situation in Somalia, where massive human suffering continues to intensify," Salim Lone, Africa analyst and columnist, told Al Jazeera.

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"War crimes are being committed, civilian communities are being targeted, journalists are being killed [and] food is being withheld from areas that are considered hostile to the government. This must change."

Lone said that the situation of in Somalia had been of the "United States' making" and that it should change its strategy for the region.

Rice, who is the first US secretary of state to visit Africa in a decade, is scheduled to meet Somalia's new prime minister during her trip.

Five ministers in the Somali government resigned this week, soon after the cabinet was named, in protest at what they see as lack of representation for their respective clans.

Inclusive administration

Rice said that the Somali prime minister had to be more inclusive in his administration.

"The Somali leadership is going to have to really reach out to all the elements that are not associated with terrorism," Rice said.

"The Somali leadership is going to have to really reach out to all the elements that are not associated with terrorism"

Condoleezza Rice, US secretary
of state
"It has to be broad and that's really my message to the prime minister. He has to find a way to broaden his base of support."

Ethiopia invaded Somalia in December 2006 to battle fighters loyal to the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), who had taken control of the south of the country from the government.

Although the Islamic movement was defeated by Ethiopian forces its supporters are now leading the fighting against the government.

Nearly 6,000 civilians have been killed in the crossfire this year, according to a Somali human right group.

Rice is also due to hold talks with Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia's prime minister, whose country shares a tense border with rival Eritrea.

"We don't need a use of force here to deal with what is obviously a significant border problem," Rice said on her way to Addis Ababa.

Tens of thousands of people were killed during a 1998-2000 Ethiopian-Eritrean war, and the border issue remains unresolved after a border commission ended its mandate on Saturday.

[The_Emperior5]

ma maraykan ka hadana is qaad qaaday

[Ina Baxar]

Rice!!

[Diyeeshaha_Tolka]

reer isaaq mardhaw mareykanka aqoonsi ayey idiin siinayaan maxaad ugu soo horjeedaan,,

[El Loco]

As long as it isn't American troops. I think the AU should send hundreds of thousands.