AFP
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The European Union called on Tuesday for a credible government in
Somalia after the mandate of the current transitional authority, accused
of rampant corruption, expires in August.
Donors have ruled out extending the term of its eight-year-old
Transitional Federal Government, which has failed to deliver on its
mandate, and are backing efforts to set up a new administration.
“The outside world could satisfy itself by just ticking 100 boxes and
saying something’s being done,” Alexander Rondos, the EU special
representative for Somalia, told reporters in Nairobi.
“The issue is, what is going to be good and right for Somalis (is
what) the Somalis themselves would judge is appropriate for their own
political dispensation.”
Under a new roadmap supported by Somalia’s Western donors, the
country has to draft a new constitution, hold elections and improve
security among other tasks in order to set up its next government.
Analysts have warned against imposing a political system on the
clan-based nation, where several international bids to establish an
effective central government have failed to reverse 21 years of
lawlessness and bloodletting.
“Let’s not cock up things (from) outside. The issue is what do
Somalis feel they can live with. That to me is the litmus test,” said
Rondos.
“We should make sure that there is a clearly discernible, demonstrable new political system that is emerging.”
The absence of a government with a nationwide authority in Somalia
has seen the country carved up by warlords, extremist militia and
pirates ruling vast regions while civilians have been plagued by
lawlessness, hunger and death.
Neighbouring countries Ethiopia and Kenya have sent troops to crush
the Al Qaeda-affiliated Shabaab militia, the latest prominent armed
group blamed for hampering peace efforts in the Horn of Africa country.
A multi-nation African Union force is also protecting the government
in Mogadishu and has stifled Shabaab efforts to overthrow it.