Medeshi Dec 23, 2008Hidden Genocide in Somalia: UN
ADDIS ABABA — The United Nations warned on Monday, December 22, about a hidden genocide in the war-torn Horn of African country of Somalia.
(More than 10,000 civilians have been killed in Somalia over the past two years. (Reuters)
"There is a hidden genocide in Somalia which has sacrificed entire generations," UN special envoy to Somalia Ahmedou Ould Abdallah told a meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) in Addis Ababa, reported Agence France Presse (AFP).
Somalia has been ravaged by violence since Ethiopian troops invaded the country in 2006 to topple the ruling Islamic Courts at the request of the weak interim government.
More than 10,000 civilians have been killed, over a million displaced and a third of the population dependent on emergency aid.
In an August report, the Human Rights Watch accused the warring parties of committing serious war crimes and massive human rights violations.
The New York-based watchdog particularly slammed Ethiopian forces for "deliberate attacks" on civilians and hospitals.
But Somali's problem go beyond the current conflict as the country has been without a central government for more than 17 years.
Alarming
The UN urged African countries to help achieve peace in the war-wrecked country.
"The Somali problem is a problem for the whole region," said Abdallah.
"The security situation in Somalia is alarming…piracy is escalating against the background of weakening leadership and insurgents control nearly all the country with the exception of Mogadishu and Baidoa," the PSC said in a statement.
It called on Ethiopia to delay a move to withdraw its 3,000 forces from Somalia to allow for reinforcements.
"We appeal to Ethiopia to consider phasing out withdrawal, until such time (when) more troops from Nigeria, Uganda and Burundi are deployed in Somalia."
About 850 Nigerian troops are expected to strengthen the 3,200 AU peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi, to prevent a security vacuum when the Ethiopians leave.
The AU said they were expected soon but no concrete time has been given.
Uganda and Burundi have a battalion each ready to go, but need financial support and equipment to deploy.
Ethiopian minister of state Tekeda Alemu said their pullout decision was irreversible.
"The decision to withdraw troops from Somalia was a commitment made by the country's authorities to parliament and will not be changed."
"There is a hidden genocide in Somalia which has sacrificed entire generations," UN special envoy to Somalia Ahmedou Ould Abdallah told a meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) in Addis Ababa, reported Agence France Presse (AFP).
Somalia has been ravaged by violence since Ethiopian troops invaded the country in 2006 to topple the ruling Islamic Courts at the request of the weak interim government.
More than 10,000 civilians have been killed, over a million displaced and a third of the population dependent on emergency aid.
In an August report, the Human Rights Watch accused the warring parties of committing serious war crimes and massive human rights violations.
The New York-based watchdog particularly slammed Ethiopian forces for "deliberate attacks" on civilians and hospitals.
But Somali's problem go beyond the current conflict as the country has been without a central government for more than 17 years.
Alarming
The UN urged African countries to help achieve peace in the war-wrecked country.
"The Somali problem is a problem for the whole region," said Abdallah.
"The security situation in Somalia is alarming…piracy is escalating against the background of weakening leadership and insurgents control nearly all the country with the exception of Mogadishu and Baidoa," the PSC said in a statement.
It called on Ethiopia to delay a move to withdraw its 3,000 forces from Somalia to allow for reinforcements.
"We appeal to Ethiopia to consider phasing out withdrawal, until such time (when) more troops from Nigeria, Uganda and Burundi are deployed in Somalia."
About 850 Nigerian troops are expected to strengthen the 3,200 AU peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi, to prevent a security vacuum when the Ethiopians leave.
The AU said they were expected soon but no concrete time has been given.
Uganda and Burundi have a battalion each ready to go, but need financial support and equipment to deploy.
Ethiopian minister of state Tekeda Alemu said their pullout decision was irreversible.
"The decision to withdraw troops from Somalia was a commitment made by the country's authorities to parliament and will not be changed."
