IGAD picks former Kenyan minister to mediate Somali peace talks
17/12/2008 16:45
The six-member regional mediating body, the Inter-Governmental Authority
on Development (IGAD) has appointed former Kenyan Agriculture Minister Kipruto
Kirwa as lead facilitator in the Somalia peace process.
Kenyan Foreign
Minister Moses Wetangula said Kirwa will be based in Djibouti and will also have
offices in Addis Ababa and Nairobi.
"Kirwa will be the IGAD facilitator for
the new momentum on peace in Somalia. Kenya is mandated under the Nairobi
Declaration and the Djibouti Peace Agreement to appoint a facilitator and the
president has appointed him," said Wetangula, according to The Standard
today.
The development came as Kenya threatens to impose sanctions on Somali
leaders who impede efforts to stabilize their country.
Wetangula said the
sacking of Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein on Sunday by President Abdullahi
Yusuf will further exacerbate the problems in Somalia since the Parliament has
refused to endorse the move.
Wetangula said the IGAD, the African Union (AU)
and the international community have over the years heavily invested and engaged
in political dialogue and reconciliation in Somalia, noting that the political
competition and polarization among the top leadership will continue to undermine
such efforts.
"Somali leaders who impede the stabilization of their country
will be placed individually and collectively under sanctions by the AU and IGAD
and also in accordance to UN Security Council Resolution 1844 (2008)," Wetangula
said.
Somali President Yusuf sacked Hussein on Sunday after they disagreed on
a new cabinet demanded by donor countries and regional leaders.
But the
Parliament reinstated Hussein on Monday, worsening the split at the top of the
already fragile government. President Yusuf named a new prime minister
yesterday, ignoring a decision by the Parliament to reinstate sacked premier
Hussein.
Somalia has not had a functioning national government since
President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991.
Xinhua
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