President Kibaki
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President Mwai Kibaki has appealed to the League of Arab States and the International Community to assist the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in its endeavour to achieve peace and prosperity for Somalia and Sudan.
Addressing the 19th League of the Arab States Summit in Riyadh Saudi Arabia today, President Kibaki who is the current chairman of IGAD reiterated that IGAD remained committed to the stabilization of the peace processes in Sudan and Somalia.He pointed out that IGAD member states have offered their limited resources, rendered financial assistance and other forms of support to facilitate these processes in the past and continue to do so.
"The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development was established to promote joint sustainable development, regional food security, coordinate growth of regional infrastructure and promote peace by preventing, managing and resolving conflicts in our sub-region," the President said.
The President said IGAD member states have spared no effort in galvanizing international attention to the conflicts in Somalia and the Sudan, adding that these efforts have borne positive fruits leading to the success of the peace initiatives for both Sudan and Somalia.Noting that January 9th this year marked the Second Anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the SPLA and the Government of Sudan which Kenya facilitated, President Kibaki President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir of Sudan for remaining steadfast and committed to the implementation of the Agreement. President Kibaki expressed optimism that the few obstacles that remain in the path of the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement will be overcome.
Said President Kibaki: "As the principal regional guarantor of this Agreement, IGAD will continue to encourage both parties to strive and ensure that they remain committed to the spirit and letter of the agreement."Recalling that the primary and specific responsibility of helping Somalia realize peace and stability after years of civil war was placed on IGAD by the African Union, the President said these efforts led to the signing of the Reconciliation Charter embodying the popular will of the Somali people in October, 2004 which was thereafter followed by the establishment of the Transitional Federal Government. More importantly, the President said a new momentum to restore normalcy in which peace and stability prevail has been acquired.
"We must seize this historical opportunity to help the Somalia Transitional Federal Authority restore peace and security which has eluded that country for many years," the President said. In this regard, President Kibaki reaffirmed IGAD's call for broad-based Federal Administrative institutions as enshrined in the Transitional Charter. He said the announcement by TFG to hold an all-inclusive national reconciliation conference inside Somalia from 16th April, 2007 has not only raised hopes of achieving genuine and durable political settlement but also opens the door for all Somali leaders representing religious, business, clan and opposition groups to dialogue in a spirit of forgiveness and tolerance.
The President, therefore, called on all sides to show courage and commitment by setting aside all differences that could stand in the way of the reconciliation conference.President Kibaki also appealed to the League of Arab States and the international community at large to urgently provide material, technical and logistical support to pave the way for deployment of additional African Union troops.He thanked Algeria for responding positively to our request for assistance by providing aircraft for transportation of troops to Somalia.The President also welcome the United Nations Technical Assistance Team sent to Mogadishu and the region to assess the security situation in preparation for the United Nations to takeover the AU Mission in Somalia in the next 6 months.
He said even as these initiatives are being put in place, what is most urgent is the need to support the nascent Government of Somalia to enable it train its Army and Police as a first step to taking full charge of the security of their country. "I am sure that you will all appreciate that without quickly disbursing funding and robust political will from the international community, the implementation of the road map for the deployment of the protection force and securing genuine reconciliation will be seriously jeopardized," he said.
The President, therefore, strongly urged the League of Arab States and other donors and friends of Somalia to make their contributions unconditionally and in a timely manner.President Kibaki thanked the Arab League States for their steadfast support to peace initiatives in the Horn of Africa and the Great region and commended the Summit for placing the Somalia and Sudan conflicts on the top of the agenda.
Sources: State House, Press Service
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