Annan urges strengthening of transitional gov't

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for the strengthening of Somalia's transitional government to save the shaky peace process in the Horn of Africa country.

In his report to the UN Security Council on Somalia on Friday, Annan also urged the international community to facilitate reconciliation between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and other political groups in the country.

"The international community cannot force peace on the belligerents, but it can help to sort out differences within the Transitional Federal Government and to bring all its members together in support of the political process in Baidoa," said Annan. The TFG is based in Baidoa, 240km northwest of Mogadishu, Somalia's capital.

He said efforts to install transitional state institutions in Somalia could be undermined by the recent faction fighting in Mogadishu and lack of adequate security in Baidoa. Militias loyal to Mogadishu's Islamic courts and those allied to a group of secular faction leaders in the city, who claimed to be fighting to root out international terrorists, engaged in bloody battles between February and June. The fighting left hundreds of people dead or wounded. Most of the secular leaders were eventually driven out of Mogadishu on 4 June and nearly the entire city is now under the control of the Union of Islamic Courts.

"The influence of internal and external actors will be required to bring both sides back from the brink and help them to resolve their differences and competing interests. While addressing the problems of Mogadishu, it is imperative that the parties find a modus operandi that also addresses any terrorist threat in the capital," said Annan, adding that continued flow of weapons to Somalia in violation of a UN arms embargo had exacerbated the violence.

He stressed that effective transitional federal institutions would enable Somalia to strengthen its internal security and deal with threats, including terrorism. The Secretary-General also called for the strengthening of a national security and stabilisation plan for Somalia, which envisages a "comprehensive, workable and verifiable ceasefire and a programme of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration" of armed groups.

"With the assistance of external actors, it is hoped that this plan will become more effective and responsive to the requirements of sustainable security and law enforcement," said Annan.

Somalia has had no functioning national administration since the overthrow of the government led by Muhammad Siyad Barre in 1991.

Annan commended UN programmes and agencies for their continued delivery of humanitarian assistance to Somalia, despite difficulties in reaching the needy. He appealed to the TFG and local authorities to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to all vulnerable groups and guarantee the protection of aid workers. Aid donors should respond generously to the humanitarian appeal for Somalia, he added.

The full report is available at: www.un.org