Form Government, Minister Tells Somali President

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
November 21, 2004

Standard Team
Nairobi

Kenya has asked President Abdullahi Yussuf of Somali to quickly name his cabinet and relocate his government to Mogadishu.

Office of the President minister Chris Murungaru, said the sooner this is done, the better for the two countries.

He said by forming a government, the newly-elected President of the strife-torn country would have more relevance to his people. Somali has been without legitimate rulers for close to one and half decades.

Murungaru said the President's role in rebuilding Somalia could be of much impact if he operated from within his country.

"The Somalia government is not complete there is only a President and a Prime Minister who are operating in exile. They risk relevance in a country which desperately needs their services," said the minister.

Murungaru said the situation made it difficult for the international community to deal with Somalia.

"The international community need to know whom they are dealing with. A government is composed of a cabinet who can make decisions and the president," he said

Kenya, Murungaru said had a direct concern in the happenings of Somalia and was keenly interested in the return of a government in Mogadishu. Yussuf was elected president after a series of peace meetings lasting for years brokered by Kenya that climaxed with more than six war lords signing up for elections.

He said Somalia was a source of illegal firearms trafficked through porous borders to Kenya and expressed hope that an organized government would help minimize the influx of arms.

"We have been affected by Somalia's insecurity. That is why we want tranquillity and order there," said Murungaru.

Murungaru said the continued stay of President Yussuf in Nairobi was a security concern citing last week's attack where gangsters raided Yusuf's home in Nairobi's Kitusuru area.

"We are confident that whoever was involved the attack will be arrested and tried," he said.

Separately, the Council of Somali elders in North Eastern Province wants the government to relocate the newly installed Somalia President to Garissa town over security concerns.

Elders and leaders from the Somali clan on the Kenyan side said Nairobi was not safe enough for the President.

The Aulian clan spokesman Osman Ibrahim asked President Kibaki to accept their request to host Yusuf among his Kenyan kinsmen in the province.

He said the provincial security team had nurtured a peaceful environment in the region for President Yussuf to organise his infant government. The leaders made the request during the coronation of Sultan Muhamud Jubat Ali as the paramount elder of the Abdala Somali clan in Garissa town,

At least 30 camels were slaughtered in celebrations that attracted more than 10,000 guests from the seven Abdala sub-clans.

Sultan Jubat is a former Garissa South constituency MP.

Jubat was unanimously endorsed during a September 13 elections as the Ugass of Abdala by more than 2,000 members.