Why is your government with the help of Ethiopian soldiers killing innocent Somalis? Do you think you can establish a stable government without the support and participation of Somali citizens?

HASSAN ABDALLA, GARISSA

 

A: I would not put the question that way; rather my government and Ethiopian allied troops are merely trying to stabilize Mogadishu and the rest of the country. As you will recall, Somalia has been without government for many years and there are many people who are accustomed to state of lawlessness and disorder. Certain groups have come forward to resist the re-establishment of stable Somalia and return of law and order in the streets of Mogadishu. Having said that, let me inform you that the fighting the capital has stopped and I hope stability will continue as the government forces are now implementing policing with the cooperation of the resident of Mogadishu.

 

There are so many Somali people living in Kenya. What is your government doing to ensure they go back home?

Joseph O. Mainya, Nairobi

 

A:TFG is focused on bringing back peace and stability back to Somalia that will allow people to return to their homes or areas of residence. I look forward to the day we can work with Kenya government and the mandated UN agency (UNHCR) to repatriate Somali refugees back to Somalia.

 

Why is it that your people always engage in tribal clashes since Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown?

Yahya Hassan Mohamed, Mombasa

 

A: Let me just say, while several Somalis leaders and groups were interest to do “regime change in Somalia” – we got it wrong, there was no agreed agenda to change the country from military dictatorship to democratic civilian rule. Instead competing interest’s side tracked them the revolution to civil war. But I am glad to share with you that it is coming to an end with the help of the Somali people and the leadership of the Transitional Federal Government and its institutions. 

 

Recently innocent Somalis have been butchered, families displaced and businesses looted. How secure are aid agencies and journalists working in Somalia?

Augustine Barasa, Cheptais

 

A: Families were asked to leave Mogadishu so the insurgents group will stop hiding among them and cause unnecessary casualties of innocent people. The Transitional Federal Government wants ‘Aid agencies’ to return to Somalia and the capital city Mogadishu to assist the people and we are doing every effort to see that happens. We believe aid workers can go back and assist the people. The war in Mogadishu is over. Mogadishu has been quite the last six days and many people are happy with the return of normalcy to the city.

 

Considering the daily violence and bloodshed in Mogadishu, don’t you think your government has failed to maintain law and order unlike what the Islamic Courts Union did when it briefly took power?

Stanley M. Nganga, Oloitokitok

 

A: In democracy everyone is entitled to their opinion, but let me tell you, the TFG arrived in Somalia and there were groups with vested interest in maintaining the chaotic status quo and essentially the TFG had an up hill climb in pacifying the city. Today as you know the fighting is over and there are plans to reconcile among groups. 

 

There has been a lot of turmoil in Somalis since the Islamic courts were thrown out of Mogadishu. Don’t you think it would be a good idea to negotiate with them?

Lernox Y A Yussuf, Arusha

 

A: the government has appointed a committee called ‘National Governance and Reconciliation Committee that will convene a National Reconciliation Congress which all Somali citizens will be represented to negotiate and discuss how to resolve all outstanding problems.

 

What can Kenya do as a good neighbour to end the violence in your country?

Mulinge Sebastian, Nairobi

 

A: the Transitional Federal Government and other institutions and the Somali people are thankful to the Kenya government and its people for the support given to Somalia and its people for many years. Presently, we hope Kenya will maintain its leadership in the region in the pursuit of peaceful Somalia and will continue to provide diplomatic assistance.

 

The Islamic Courts administration had been accused by your government and the US of working with Al Queda terrorists. Is there evidencce to this effect?

Leonard Ologo, Kitale.

 

A: Yes. But I’m not at liberty to discuss much of the details at this point. However, we do know they harbored the killers of over 200 Kenyan citizens during the US embassy bomb blast. It is unfortunate this group would give safe heaven to people who have killed so many Kenyans who are our neighbor and who have hosted so many Somali refugees for many years and are still hosting.

 

There was confusion over who is the Somali ambassador to Kenya after a man purporting to hold the position displayed documents to the media to back his claims. Please explain.

Abdimalik Jama, Nairobi

 

A: it is internal matter which I can not discuss. For so long Somali people have forgotten the conduct of government, I am here to represent the Transitional Federal Government and I am pleased to be able to do so. I am the designated Somali Ambassador to Kenya after the TFG’s Council of Ministers has recently approved my appointment. The Process of my nomination and consequently my credentials will be shortly signed by H.E. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, the President of the Somali Republic and I will present it to the Government of the Republic of Kenya.

 

Is your country under Ethiopian military occupation?

Hassan Mohamed, Chuka.

 

A: No.

 

Recently your government sacked almost 30 MPs and the parliamentary speaker. Do you think this will weaken the existence of the government?

OMAR HUSSEIN, MANDERA

 

A: No. the Transitional Federal Parliament debated the issue of absent MPs. One month period was given for them to report back to their duty. Once 30 MPs did not report back, the Parliament Disciplinary Committee recommended to the Speaker, Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur, citing articles 16(3), 17(1-14) and 20(3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament to declare their seats vacant effective 17 April 2007. He also requested clans they represented to submit replacement MPs.

 

To answer your second question, I don’t think it weakens the government or parliament, but in fact to the contrary it strengthens the establishment of democratic practices in Somalia. MPs are sent to the parliament by their constituencies to represent them.

 

What lessons do you think Kenya can learn from the crisis in your country?

Irene Muli, Machakos.

 

A: Simply look at Somalia and all the years lost in developing the country and meeting the needs of the people. Please avoid repeating the Somali mistake. Learn from our mistakes and continue your evolving democratic tradition.

 

Don’t you think the world is tired and frustrated by the bloodshed in your country?

Masafu Kiberenge S. Christopher, Bungoma

 

A: I agree with you and that is why the Transitional Federal Government and Parliament was negotiating over two and half years in Kenya to re-establish a transitional governance process in Somalia, but some people who participated were less than genuine in the effort of re-establishing institutions in Somalia. Now, my government is thankful to the support it has received from the African Union (AU), the regional bodies like Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the League of Arab States (LAS), the European Union (EU), and the wider international community including USA, of all the years of chaos in my country. We are glad for the support that was given to the Somali people, including refugees and displaced people. We hope the problem of Somalia is near end and for one last time, Somalia will receive assistance in terms of proper Reconstruction and Development Plan which would put Somalia on path to return to the nations of the world community.

 

Has Somalia thought of asking its intellectuals in the Diaspora to come back and help in normalizing the situation?

 

A: Yes, and plans are underway to call upon them to return and contribute to the re-birth of the nation. In the immediate terms my government expects that they will play a significant role in the reconciliation and pacification of the country.

 

You are said to be the most important Somalia Ambassador in the world given your posting in Nairobi. What are some of the issues you are tackling on a day-to-day basis? Githuku Mungai, Nairobi

 

A: I am glad to be posted to Nairobi, Kenya, the country that has shouldered the responsibility of reconciling the long standing Somali problem. Also, Nairobi is important as it is the base for all embassies and international organizations, including the United Nations agencies working in Somalia.

 

At the beginning of the current war pitying the Islamist troops against government soldiers supported by Ethiopians, you never raised a finger when refugees from Somali were turned away by the Kenya government; why ?

Kuria, Githunguri.

 

A: I am not at liberty to talk about it in details, but the TFG representatives and the Kenya government had number of meetings on this issue. May I also add that we (TFG) understood the main concerns of Kenya.

 

President Abdullahi Yusuf and Prime Minister Ghedi are known to have had differences on setting up a government and moving to Somalia from the base in Nairobi. What kind of relationship do they have now?

James Kinyua, Nairobi

 

A: I am not aware of such differences, but I can tell you the President of the Transitional Federal Government and the Prime of the Transitional Federal Government have very good relations and might I add that they share the same values and vision for the Somali people and the country.

 

It is common knowledge that the Ethiopian government influenced the Somali peace process. Now its troops are fighting in Somalia. What is Ethiopia’s interest in your country?

Farahh Maulid, Mombasa

 

A: Ethiopian is a member state of the Inter-Governmental Authority (IGAD) which sponsored the Somali National Reconciliation Conference held in Kenya. All the member states of IGAD helped with the fruitful outcome of the SNRC.

 

One fact most people ignore is the fact at the height of the civil war when many Somali refugees fled the country to Ethiopia and Kenya, both countries welcomed them with open hands and came to the aid of the people. The events of those days have changed the history of the Horn of Africa and we are thankful to the assistance they have time and again given to us.

 

Some critics say that your government is a puppet authority that is meant to safeguard the interests of US and Ethiopian governments. Please comment.

 

A: Somalia and my government wishes to have good relations with all countries in the international community. We particularly would like to receive the developmental assistance we can receive from the United States of America and neighouring countries.

 

What do you know about the so-called alqaeda cells operating in Somalia?

Hassan. M. Dahir, Easleigh.

 

A: I think I have answered that question earlier. Al Qaeda is not a friend of Somalia or the Horn of Africa countries and we will not accept them to remain in our country.

 

 

With your country’s16-year-old killing spree not showing signs of ending, what do you think is the value of human life in Mogadishu?

Robert Nyamori, Mombasa.

 

A: The Transitional Federal Government vision to see all Somali people prosper and to end the chaotic 16 years. With the help of the people we are on the road to do that.

 

The Hawiye clan, which is dominant in Mogadishu and surrounding areas, is said to be opposing the Transitional Federal Government and backing the Islamic Courts. Why they always opposed every government?

Yusuf  Eastleigh, Nairobi

 

A: I don’t think it is the Hawiye clan that opposes the re-establishment of government in Somalia, but some interest groups. The Hawiye clan is member of the Transitional Federal Government and they have their share of the power contrary to what you hear on regular basis.

 

Do you think, it's a possible that the same warlords who caused the death and destructions in almost two decades to Somali's are capable of restoring peace and stability in Somalia?  

 DALMAR, NAIROBI

 

A: The establishment of the Transitional Federal Government took over a period of two and half years and after all reconciliation is a long term process, so I am hopeful that all Somalis will contribute to the peace, stability and rule of law in Somalia.

 

Besides the turmoil that has ravaged your country for years, I have heard that the communications sector in Somalia is booming as it enjoys full liberalization. Are there economic lessons Kenya can learn from Somalia?

 

A: A lot of things operating including the communication sector have developed and evolved during the period of chaos and absence of regulatory bodies which is the responsibility of government. I expect that the government will establish regulation bodies and laws but Somali private sector will be even more strengthened and vibrant in the future.

 

Lately, there have been serious concerns of piracy off the coast of Somalia, and has threatened the safety of sea vessels plying the Indian Ocean.  What is your government doing to curb this piracy?

GEORGE GOPAL, NAIROBI

 

A: This is part of the long standing problem in Somalia during absence of government.We have many things to correct in Somalia and this is one of it.

 

Do you in your opinion think this is the only chance that Somali people have to put their house in order?

S. Salim, Mombasa

 

A: Absolutely It is a golden opportunity for the Somali people and country to move forward to put proper democratic roots in place.

 

Thank you.

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