Medeshi Dec2 , 2008Tanzania Worried over increased piracy off Somalia
President Jakaya Kikwete has expressed concern over increased incidents of piracy off the Somali coast, saying they were now a threat to global peace. President Kikwete, who is also the African Union (AU) Chairman, said the international community should come in swiftly to save the country from further disintegration.
The AU chairman said this during talks with the Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Muhammad Sabah al Salem al Sabah here late Sunday, on the sidelines of the four-day UN Conference on Financing Development, which kicked off on Saturday. “Piracy is not only a threat to peace and security to countries neighbouring Somalia, but to the entire world in general.
“We are all worried. Many people are now thinking of optional routes instead of passing through the Suez Canal, which is short but highly risky because of its vicinity to the Somali Coast,” President Kikwete said. Mr Kikwete said the interim Somali government was on the brink of total collapse and the AU peacekeeping force now in Somalia is inadequate.
He said more troops are needed to be sent to Somalia and Ethiopia has plans to pull out its forces later next month. “If Ethiopia goes ahead with its plans to pull out from Somalia, then a major humanitarian crisis is likely to follow,” he told the Kuwait minister. He explained that there were serious misunderstandings between the interim president and his prime minister, where the president and his government are operating from Libya.
“It is unfortunate many attempts to resolve the conflicts have failed,” he added. Dr al Sabah also expressed concern over the situation in Somalia. Earlier, President Kikwete held talks with Sudan President Omar al Bashir, who briefed him on his government’s initiatives to restore peace in Darfur. Bashir also said his country was keen to resolve the current tension with its northern neighbour – Chad. President Kikwete commended the Sudanese leader for his initiatives to end protracted armed violence, political and humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
President Jakaya Kikwete has expressed concern over increased incidents of piracy off the Somali coast, saying they were now a threat to global peace. President Kikwete, who is also the African Union (AU) Chairman, said the international community should come in swiftly to save the country from further disintegration.
The AU chairman said this during talks with the Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Muhammad Sabah al Salem al Sabah here late Sunday, on the sidelines of the four-day UN Conference on Financing Development, which kicked off on Saturday. “Piracy is not only a threat to peace and security to countries neighbouring Somalia, but to the entire world in general.
“We are all worried. Many people are now thinking of optional routes instead of passing through the Suez Canal, which is short but highly risky because of its vicinity to the Somali Coast,” President Kikwete said. Mr Kikwete said the interim Somali government was on the brink of total collapse and the AU peacekeeping force now in Somalia is inadequate.
He said more troops are needed to be sent to Somalia and Ethiopia has plans to pull out its forces later next month. “If Ethiopia goes ahead with its plans to pull out from Somalia, then a major humanitarian crisis is likely to follow,” he told the Kuwait minister. He explained that there were serious misunderstandings between the interim president and his prime minister, where the president and his government are operating from Libya.
“It is unfortunate many attempts to resolve the conflicts have failed,” he added. Dr al Sabah also expressed concern over the situation in Somalia. Earlier, President Kikwete held talks with Sudan President Omar al Bashir, who briefed him on his government’s initiatives to restore peace in Darfur. Bashir also said his country was keen to resolve the current tension with its northern neighbour – Chad. President Kikwete commended the Sudanese leader for his initiatives to end protracted armed violence, political and humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
