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Islamists Pleased With Ugandan Backoff Plan of Sending Troops

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
NEWS
December 14, 2006
Posted to the web December 14, 2006

By Aweys Osman Yusuf
Mogadishu
Islamic Courts in Somalia have endorsed Ugandan back off plan of sending
peacekeeping mission to Somalia. Uganda was the only country that announced it
would send peacekeepers to Somalia following the approval of US baked draft
resolution of lifting arms embargo on Somalia.
The first assistant chairperson of Union of Islamic Courts executive council
Sheik Abdirahman Jiniqow has told Shabelle by telephone that Uganda and some
other African countries did turn a blind eye on the Somali people's
dissatisfaction of foreign troops coming to their country. "Foreign
intervention being made in a country depends on the authorization of its
population," he said.
He has indicated that Ugandan government retreated its decisions of sending
troops to Somalia after it realized that Islamic Courts were determined to
launch a jihad or holy war against any peacekeeping troops that attempt to set
their foot in Somalia's territory.
The news came as African countries with great lakes were meeting in the Kenyan
capital Nairobi on the developments and tense situations in Somalia.
Ismail Hura Buba, foreign minister of the transitional government, has told
Shabelle by the phone that Somalia would participate in meeting in Nairobi, as
it is one of countries with great lakes. "The meeting will give Somalia an
opportunity of economic development and security improvement," he said.
Buba stated that president Abdulahi Yusuf was invited in the meeting but would
not take part for personal reasons. "Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi will take
part in Nairobi convention on behalf of the president," he said.
Ugandan government declared early this week that it would reassess its plan of
sending troops to Somalia, indicating that Ugandan troops, who are merely
trained for peacekeeping missions, could not be embroiled in Somalia's
government and Islamist clashes.
The transitional government was formed in 2004 with the UN and international
community help. It remained largely powerless in the small town of Baidoa, 245
km southwest of the capital Mogadishu, and it is besieged by the military
powerful Islamic Courts fighters that control central and southernmost of the
country, including the capital Mogadishu.


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