Ethiopian troops are very unpopular with
Mogadishu's residents
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There have been celebrations in the Somalia
capital Mogadishu after Ethiopian troops withdrew from their two
main bases in the city.
People are returning to homes evacuated after the Ethiopians
intervened two years ago to oust Islamist forces.
Their pull-out has stoked fears of a highly volatile power
vacuum but others say it could pave the way for peace.
A ceremony was held in the city to mark the handover of
security to government forces and moderate Islamists.
A small African Union peacekeeping force remains in Mogadishu
but analysts say it is not strong enough to withstand the
Islamists, who once more control much of southern Somalia.
The US wants the United Nations to take over peacekeeping
duties.
Ethiopia agreed to pull out last October as part
of a UN-backed peace deal between the fragile transitional
government and one of the main opposition factions.
One of the Ethiopian bases was reportedly immediately taken
over by an insurgent group opposed to the peace deal which paved
the way for the withdrawal.
When Mogadishu residents heard about it on Tuesday morning,
they flocked to the area to see the empty bases for themselves.
"We were chanting 'Praise be to Allah', who made the troops
leave our area," local man Hussein Awale told Reuters news
agency.
'Good work'
Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein praised the Ethiopian
forces saying: "We congratulate them for the good work they did.
We also congratulate them for implementing the peace agreement,"
reported the AFP news agency.
Ethiopian commander Col Gabre Yohanes Abate said: "It is time
Somalia stands on its own feet," according to the AP news
agency.
Islamist insurgents control much of Mogadishu
now
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"So we are saying goodbye to all Somalis and
their dignitaries."
Some 16,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict
between Somalia's transitional government and the Islamists, and
a million more have been forced from their homes.
Ethiopia has fought two border wars with Somalia and its
intervention was deeply unpopular, united disparate groups
against their presence.
Western diplomats hope their withdrawal could reduce support
for hardline Islamists and lead to moderates joining a
government of national unity.
The BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the
Ethiopians withdrew from two bases in the north-east of the
city, where there have been daily clashes between them and
insurgents.
Our reporter says there are three remaining military bases,
but the withdrawal from the strategic north-east of the city is
seen as a strong signal that the Ethiopians are leaving.
A small group of Ethiopian troops has been seen heading for
the border in recent days.
UN force?
Uganda, Burundi and Nigeria are willing to send extra troops
but the African Union has no money to pay for them and is wary
of taking on an open-ended commitment.
Increasingly urgent efforts are now going on to strengthen
the small African Union force.
Many of the city's residents get caught in the
daily skirmishes
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Potential donor countries have been invited to a
meeting this Saturday at African Union headquarters.
The UN special representative to Somalia, Ahmedou
Ould-Abdallah, told the BBC he was in favour of any plan,
including that proposed by the US, for a UN peacekeeping force
in Somalia.
"I will be supportive of any resolution adopted by the [UN]
Security Council," he said. "Somalia has been left alone for a
long time in the hands of some people doing what they want."
Last month UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said few
countries were willing to send troops to Somalia, as there was
no peace to keep.
Somalia has not had an effective national government since
1991, since when various militias have been battling for
control.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009 |
It is time Somalia stands on its own feet so
we are saying goodbye to all Somalis
