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From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Sun Sep 26 2010 - 06:46:51 EDT
Kenya says West wasting money on anti-piracy ships
By EDITH M. LEDERER (AP)
26/09/2010
UNITED NATIONS - Kenya's foreign minister said Saturday the millions being
spent to fight pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia should be spent
instead on helping the country become a functioning state.
Moses Wetangula said in an interview with The Associated Press that Uganda
has offered troops to expand the African Union force in Somalia from 7,100
to 20,000 to support the restoration of law and order.
But he said that nobody is stepping up to help with much needed money and
equipment.
"Piracy is not born at sea. It's born on land. And if you are able to patrol
and protect your coastline, it's unlikely that pirates will find a way to
the high seas to cause the menace," Wetangula said. "Instead, what are we
seeing? 52 warships patroling ... the waters of the Indian Ocean, but piracy
is still going on."
Wetangula said the flotilla should be disbanded and the money should be used
instead to help Somalia "become a state."
He warned that neglecting Somalia amid increasing attacks from militants and
Jihadists trying to overthrow the weak U.N.-backed transitional government
"may end up being a tragedy that would vibrate far and wide."
Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991 when warlords
overthrew longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on each
other, plunging the country into chaos. African Union peacekeepers have
struggled to protect the small enclave in the capital, Mogadishu, where the
Somali government operates.
Al-Shabab Islamic extremists, accused of links with al-Qaida, have launched
a series of attacks over the last month after declaring a "new" war against
the transitional government, established in 2004. They also claimed
responsibility for the deadly bombings that killed scores of civilians
watching the World Cup finals in Uganda in July.
Wetangula called the Jihadist threat "very strong" and "very worrying,"
saying Somali militants are being bolstered by mercenaries from abroad.
"If the government was given the capacity to strengthen its ability to fight
back, I would have no doubt that al-Shabab can be defeated in a very short
time," Wetangula said.
"Those with the money don't seem to open their envelopes to Somalia, or to
the cause of Somalia," he said.
Wetangula pointed to a high-level meeting to promote peace in Sudan at the
U.N. on Friday which President Barack Obama and numerous other world leaders
and ministers attended, saying "I wish the same could be done for Somalia."
The Kenyan minister said he has met with U.S. officials on numerous
occasions, including talks on Friday with Johnnie Carson, the top U.S.
diplomat for Africa. Many other African leaders and ministers have also
pressed for U.S. equipment and funds for an expanded force in Somalia.
"I think it's not the reaction that is lacking" because that's "always very
positive," Wetangula said. "It's the action that is lacking."
Carson said Friday the Obama administration plans to strengthen ties with
two breakaway republics in northern Somalia to blunt the threat from
al-Shabab, and will provide more aid to the transitional government, but he
didn't elaborate.
Wetangula noted that when Ethiopia, a key U.S. ally, sent thousands of
troops into Somalia in early 2007 it took them two days to get to Mogadishu
and they faced no resistance from militants who had been in power for six
months. The unpopular Ethiopians withdrew two years later, with the
militants in near-total control of a failed state with a worsening
humanitarian crisis.
He said African leaders "will not allow" al-Shabab to take over Mogadishsu.
If the capital is seriously threatened, he said, "I do not rule out
anything," including the possible return of the Ethopian troops.
He said the African Union isn't asking for a lot to help the transitional
government - a few tanks, "even second hand ones from Iraq can do," a few
military helicopters so they can "roar around and show who's boss," and
weapons that are superior to the Kalashnikov rifles used by most of the
militants, as well as patrol boats.
Wetangula also criticized humanitarian organizations based in Nairobi that
say they're dealing with issues like maternal health care and malaria in
Somalia.
"It doesn't add up," he said, "and all these things can be done by Somalis
themselves if they have a viable government."
Copyright C 2010 The Associated Press.
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