AU warns against external interference in Somalia, urges refrain

Somalia PM Hassan Khaire (L) in talks with AU Commission chairperson (R) Moussa Faki Mahamat in Addis Ababa Sunday. Photo: OPM

African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has warned against external interference in Somalia noting this was detrimental to the country’s recovery and stability.

Speaking during a meeting with Prime Minister Hassan Khaire Sunday, Mahamat said he was concerned by the role of external actors in the Horn of Africa country calling for an end to any such interference.

In what could be a veiled reference to the recent Gulf nations’ activities in Somalia which have in the recent past led to political and diplomatic fall-outs, the AU chief was categorical that the actors were non-African.

“The Chairperson of the Commission expressed concern over increasing instances of external interference by non-African actors in Somalia’s internal affairs, noting that this threatens to disrupt the peace-building and state-building efforts currently underway in Somalia, and risks reversing the hard-won gains so far made in the country thanks to the sacrifices of AMISOM and the Somali security forces,” a communique from the meeting read in part.

Somalia petitions Arab League over Berbera port deal

Somali has lodged complaints against UAE in the Arab League and the UN Security Council over what it termed as interference and compromise of its independence and territorial integrity by the Gulf country. The differences which largely emerged since the onset of the Gulf Crisis last June spiraled into a full diplomatic feud in the wake of the Berbera Port dispute in which Mogadishu is accusing Abu Dhabi of illegally entering into contracts with the break-away region of Somaliland.

ROAD MAP

The AU chairman also hailed Somalia for ‘its efforts to establish cohesive and inclusive politics, deepen federalism, resolve the conflicts affecting the country and advance peace-building and reconciliation,’ and called on all stakeholders to actively engage in realizing the country’s political map.

The roadmap envisions among others the completion of the revision of the provisional constitution and the preparation for the one-person-one-vote election in 2020/2021.

PM Khaire on his part paid tribute to the bravery of AMISOM forces. He expressed gratitude to the Troop and Police Contributing Countries for their efforts and sacrifices in the pursuit of peace and security for Somalia. He stressed that their commitment has been essential to Somalia’s progress, and AMISOM’s presence remains critical as the country moves in earnest towards full ownership of security responsibility over Somalia.

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