Somalia govt to push ahead with May 28 relocation

Sat May 21, 2005

By Guled Mohamed

NAIROBI (Reuters)- The Somali interim government will relocate to its lawless country by the end of the month as planned despite warnings by some faction leaders not to do so, Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi said on Friday.

"We will start moving on May 28 whether we get funds or not," Gedi told a luncheon he hosted for Somali members of parliament.

The fledgling government has remained in the relative safety of Kenya since its formation there last year. Citing insecurity, it has repeatedly postponed plans to relocate back to Somalia which remains a patchwork of fiefdoms ruled by rival warlords.

A bitter debate over where the new administration should be based has also caused a split in the government and slowed down relocation plans, officials say.

Gedi and President Abdullahi Yusuf want to base the government outside the lawless capital of Mogadishu, which they say is too dangerous and instead favour a move to the southwestern town of Baidoa.

But powerful Mogadishu warlords in the government insist Mogadishu must be the capital as stipulated by their constitution.

A warlord whose militias control Baidoa warned on Thursday that the government risks a fight if it tries to make its temporary home in the town. But Gedi dismissed the threats.

"People are saying there is a problem in Baidoa, there is no problem at all. Reconciliation efforts are ongoing and I believe it will end soon," the prime minister said.

The prime minister said donors had put relocating to Somalia as a key condition for releasing aid to his government.

Lawmaker Ali Bashi delivering a message from deputies and warlords in Mogadishu said most Somalis want the government to move to Mogadishu.

"Your brothers in Mogadishu welcome Ugandan and Sudanese troops and want the government to move to the capital," he said.

The African Union approved a plan last week to send Ugandan and Sudanese troops to help the government relocate to Somalia.

But Sudanese Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abbas Arabi said on Thursday the situation in Somalia at the moment is not suitable for such a mission.

Uganda says it is ready to send troops to Somalia and is waiting the final order from east African peace body, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Gedi asked members of the cabinet and parliamentarians to start reconciliation drives in their local areas that would be funded by his government.

"Start reconciliation meetings in your districts and form local administrations and police forces. I will personally assess your efforts in all parts of Somalia," he said.