Somali Prime Minister wants dialogue with Islamists

February 18, 2009
London(Saylac.com-The new Somali Prime Minister, Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, said he want to meet the Islamist insurgents and placed on the dialogue to end the violence that bloody the country for nearly 20 years.

Son of a former president assassinated, Sharmarke was chosen last week by the President of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, to head a national unity government whose priority is to restore order in the country of the Horn of Africa.

Islamist insurgents, especially the main rebel group Al Shabaab have declared the 'jihad' against the new unity government set up following a peace process in Djibouti under the observation of the UN. The conflict (Somali Prime Minister Mr Sharmarke)has claimed over a million displaced in recent years. "We need to know to what claims Al Shabaab fights today on what they refer to dismiss the President and myself," said Sharmarke Sunday evening in an interview with the press.

"I do not think they are now real reasons to fight, and we call on them to consider the difficulties the country has known these past 18 years. And, of course, we want to sit around with them ' a table, "he added.

According to Washington, Al Shabaab is over Al Qaeda in Somalia and has foreign activists in its ranks. Controlling a large part of the territory, especially in the South and parts of Mogadishu, the movement has long fought the forces allied Ethiopian and Somali government, which pulled out last month.

On the other hand, Ethiopia is not welcoming this announcement from the Somali Prime minister. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told the press “It is not helpful the region to sit with what he called the Al-Qaeda wing of Somalia" referring Al-Shabbat fighters. Meles Zenawi tried to push diplomatic pressure to prevent Al-shabaab any Somali peace process, but this time that effort seemed to diminish at the region.

The president of Republic of Djibouti - Ismael Omer Guleid had an honor dinner with the Somali President Sheikh Sharif in which he congratulated any Somali Peace Process and development including talk with Al-shabab.


The Somali Prime Minister Announcement came after a lot of expectation from Somali communities and intellectual around the world with his government.

Saylac.com
London- Uk