Mogadishu residents are expected to
demonstrate today (Thursday) in support of the new government's efforts to
restore peace to Somalia. The residents say they are tired of the escalating
violence orchestrated by hard line Islamic insurgent groups, including
al-Shabaab which has left scores dead and the capital, Mogadishu unstable. They
also plan to denounce the violent activities of the Islamic groups and support
President Sheik Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's government to succeed in restoring peace
to the country. Ismail Ahmed Nur is a Somalia parliamentarian. He tells
reporter Peter Clottey that ordinary Somalis continue to show their support for
the new unity government.
"The
Somalis have responded positively so far to the government of national unity
since it was formed and the president was elected in Djibouti. There are some
groups who are not happy with the formation of the government or the election
of the president. But the majority of Somalis have so far responded positively
to the new government," Ahmed Nur pointed out.
He
said the government and the Somali parliament want to restore peace and
stability to the country despite incessant attacks by hard line Islamic
insurgent groups.
"The
parliament is committed in bringing peace into the country and that is why the
former TFG (Transitional Federal Government) have accepted to agree with the
ARS (Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia) and that is the reason why we
have formed this unity government, and we are committed to work to bring about
peace into the country," he said.
Meanwhile
the new Somali president is expected to return to Mogadishu today after
consulting with President Mwai Kibaki's coalition government.
Ahmed
Nur said parliamentarians are expecting the government to soon present its
agenda after returning from neighboring Kenya.
"When
the president arrives today, the government is expected to bring to parliament
their national program and security program as well as their work plan and I
think things are so far going very smoothly if nothing major happens," Ahmed
Nur noted.
He
said both parliament and the new government are pleased with the level of
public support for their effort to restore peace in Somalia.
"The
public has responded positively and the president spoke to the Kenyan
authorities saying his administration is concerned about tax collection as well
as capacity building by the Somali institutions. There is need to improve the
institutions here because as you know in Somalia the state institutions are not
established well, like the security infrastructure was not established very
well. So we expected the Kenyans government to assist us in capacity building
of all these national institutions, like customs etcetera. So, the president
spoke with the Kenyans about these issues when he was there," he said.