Saturday
Jul 04th
Home
| Why AMISOM mandate shouldn't cover the Somali coasts too |
|
|
| Saturday, 18 October 2008 | |
|
Sir - AMISOM is an acronym for African Mission in Somalia. It designates the African forces sent by the AU to keep peace in Somalia. I am not aware of the terms of reference or the exact nature of the mandate of AMISOM or whether it should intervene in Somali waters or not, but it is a question worth asking in the light of what is happening now off Somalia coasts. The Western media hysteria about pirate activity off the coasts of Somalia and the resulting consequence of public opinion anger, and the proposed solution of NATO intervention, is a classical example of PRS (Problem-Reaction-Solution). PRS works as follows; first you create a problem, then there is a reaction of anger, fear or feeling of insecurity amongst the population as a result of the problem, then you come up with the solution you wanted to impose and which fits your agenda. The NATO countries that are sending their troops and war vessels to Somalia waters are the same that carved Africa into spheres of influence and colonial domination at the Berlin Conference of 1885 and we have the right to question their real motives. A number of African countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Libya have the naval and military capability to protect the Somali coasts not only from pirates but also from more dangerous criminal activities such as illegal fishing and dumping of toxic and nuclear waste. We know that Africa is too weak today and has handed its destiny to foreign powers. But as did Emperor Menelik of Ethiopia, when he sent a circular letter to the European Powers meeting in Berlin in 1885, the government of South Africa should send a vessel or two to the Somali coast, just to remind NATO powers that they are trampling into African waters. It would be a simple symbolic gesture, but it is worth trying. Mohamed Mohamed Sheikh Founding Chairman Somali Community Literacy Centre P.O.Box 419 Code 1110 Addis Ababa Email - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
