Somalia's hardliner Islamic group,
al-Shabaab has sharply condemned a National Security meeting aimed at improving
the security situation in the capital, Mogadishu. The meeting which ended
Tuesday was called by new President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. It aimed to
pave the way for the relocation of the National Unity government and parliament
to the capital in the coming days. The National Security Council members
unanimously agreed at the meeting to integrate both secular and Islamic
insurgent forces, including the police to maintain peace. This comes after the
new prime minster said he was ready to hold negotiations with Islamic insurgent
groups including hardliner group, al-Shabaab.
Described by Washington as a
terrorist origination, al-Shabbab promises to take over the country and refuses
to recognize both the new president and the prime minister. Abdullahi Nur is a
Mogadishu resident. He tells reporter Peter Clottey that most residents are
hopeful of a return to peace and stability.
"I
think the people support the ongoing peace efforts, but there are some
differences like some of the non-cooperators of the National Reconciliation
held in Djibouti and those in Mogadishu so they both need to talk before a
final action is decided upon. So, what the Security Council has said so far is
good and many Somalis support what they are doing in order to bring back peace
and stability to the capital, Mogadishu," Nur pointed out.
He
said there seems to be hope in the latest development effort to ensure ordinary
Somalis living in the capital, Mogadishu are safe.
"So,
I think what the Council says is a good thing for the country. They are saying
reassuring words to people about the security in the country and they are
encouraging the civil society. And they are saying we need to participate I
mean all parts of the people including the traditional elders and the women groups
and that is very fine. But their word is not enough because we need from the
statements some action because we need to see that the remaining militias
romancing and looting and killing people to be brought to book. These guys are
looting the people and they have their big guns some say are given to them by
the TFG (Transitional Federal Government) and that is very dangerous," he said.
Nur
said there are high expectations among Mogadishu residents that peace would
return.
"Hopefully,
I think some changes will happen. But according to our experiences the peace
and reconciliation in Somalia make people not to be too optimistic. And since
the new President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was elected there is hope things
would be better. He is is very intellectual and very high reputation among
Somali parliamentarians and we most feel things would be improving soon," Nur
noted.
He
said there was need for ordinary Somalis to be educated about the current
situation in the country.
"We
need a civic socialization mission in Somalia. The ordinary Somali need to
understand what is going on not only to understand but also to be aware because
from what I have heard from the local media and the international media that
other peace keepers are coming to join AMISOM (Africa Union Mission in
Somalia). So there is hope that things would improve and I think the majority
of the people support the government but the majority need the minority too
since they are all part of the society," he said.
Nur
said flexibility of the new administration would help bring Islamic hardliners
like al-Shabaab into the administration and peace to Somalia.
"My
view is always positive because al-Shabaab was or has always been part of the
Islamists before ARS (Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia) separated. So,
I think the situation would improve if the new unity government like the
president and the prime minister show flexibility not only for al-Shabaab but
also all the other insurgents because all the community has changed. And the
root cause of the Somali problem is the clanism and the ideological
manipulation," Nur pointed out.