Ethiopia Monday called on member states of the African Union (AU) and the international community to renew their efforts towards providing an all-inclusive support and cooperation to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia in view of the improving security situation in the country.
According to a press statement issued by Ethiopia’s Information Ministry, a favourable environment has been created in Somalia for the international community to beef up support to local institutions that are striving to ensure peace and stability in the war-ravaged nation.
“The newly established Somali cabinet has already become operational in accordance with the TFG Charter. “In addition to defending the country from anti-peace elements, the efforts undertaken by the cabinet to discharge its duties and responsibilities are encouraging and promising,” the government stated.
Ethiopian troops have not been able to withdraw from Somalia, where they entered since December 2006, in pursuit of insurgents under the Union of Islamic Courts , until a strong enough peace-keeping force is deployed to take over.
In the statement, the Ethiopian government affirmed the Somali people were now contributing their share to support the TFG in restoring peace and stability.
“Clan leaders and representatives of the people are sharing their ideas by holding meetings and discussions with the TFG executive bodies on ways of ensuring su s tainable peace in the country,” the statement said, encouraging the Somali peopl e to maintain their unity in national reconstruction endeavours.
Pledging to maintain its support to the TFG and the Somali people, Ethiopia also encouraged the newly appointed cabinet under Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein to continue working closely with clan leaders and representatives of the people.
The government should create a favourable environment to enable the executive bodies discharge their responsibilities, the Ethiopia’s statement emphasised.
Last week, the UN Security Council renewed the mandate of the AU peace-keeping force in Somalia, AMISOM, for another period of six months, observing that the situation on the ground continued to constitute a threat to peace and security in the region.
In the same resolution, the council urged AU member states to contribute more troops to AMISOM.
Panapress
