JEDDAH, 16 January 2003 — A former chairman of the Disarmament Commission of Somalia’s Transitional National Government (TNG), Gen. Muhammad Nur Galal, said yesterday that the availability of arms in Somalia was the major impediment to the country’s reconciliation.
During a recent visit to the Kingdom, he told Arab News: “Two years ago, the TNG established the Disarmament Commission stipulated by the interim charter. The commission planned to invite the former Somali armed forces. The army can enforce security and disarm the militias. The lack of funds, however, precluded even the beginning of the commission’s work.”
He said since the beginning of a civil war in 1991, the former armed forces had not participated in the clan wars or had the capabilities to enforce security and stability throughout the country.
The TNG refused to supply the resources needed to empower the commission. Arab countries granted adequate financial assistance to the TNG. Unfortunately, the aid was mismanaged. The commission has finally been dissolved, said Gen. Galal.
He said 3,000 well-equipped military personnel could control the capital, Mogadishu, and the entire southern region. International financial aid is needed. This assistance could be in the form of military logistics and training.
He said the arms in the hands of the civilian population are two types: heavy and light. Some people bought weapons in order to safeguard their property. Heavy weapons can be bought from their owners while the light ones can be taken by force.
“Warlords can never agree on a genuine pact. Every warlord wants to be a Somali leader. They have a good relationship with Ethiopia. Addis Ababa supplies them arms. In fact, Ethiopia has been engaging in destabilizing Somalia by supporting the warmongers. Landlocked Ethiopia seeks Somali mini-states in order to use its seaports and exert great influence in the Red Sea region. The warlords and their arms suppliers are the main obstructions to peace,” Gen. Galal added.
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On Tuesday, Kenya’s special envoy to the Somalia peace talks played down chances the peace effort would be undermined by recent accusations of corruption. According to the Daily Nation, the envoy, Elijah Mwangale, said that he was confident the process had made major gains. He also offered to resign if the parties involved felt this would help.
Some leaders attending the conference have raised allegations of misappropriation of funds during the three-month-old talks.
For the last two months, six committees have been discussing how to form a federal broad-based government.
The peace talks have been hindered by the demands of the participants. They have argued that the number of delegates should be reduced.
Somali leaders, who last week met the new Kenyan foreign minister, Kalonzo Masyoka, have accused him of being dictatorial. Mwangale was appointed by the previous Kenyan government that lost power in the December elections.
“We expect to enter phase three effectively from early February,” Mwangale said. At the same time, a Mogadishu-based warlord, Muse Sudi Yalahow, left the peace talks in Kenya on Monday. According to the press reports, Yalahow was unhappy with the progress of the talks.
