Ghana supports peace process in Somalia

Tuesday, March 1, 2011
By Edmund Mingle
President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday solicited an urgent support from the international community for the peace process in Somalia saying the situation in that country should not be left to deteriorate.

Opening an international conference to discuss the African Union’s role in the implementation of the Djibouti peace process for Somalia in Accra, President Mills, said the failure of the previous 13 peace agreements should not dampen the resolve of the international community and partners.

Rather, he said it should provide the opportunity for all partners to restrategise and enhance the mechanisms for peace in Somalia which has been destroyed by two decades of civil war.

“This is the time we must thinks about the Somali people,” he said, adding that the situation in Somalia which has resulted in the loss of lives and the suffering of many Somalis, was totally unacceptable.

The Somalia conflict, President Mills noted, posed a threat to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa, and therefore efforts should be enhanced to achieve lasting peace that country.
He assured the parties involved in the implementation of the peace process of Ghana’s commitment to contribute to efforts towards the success of the process, and thanked the AU for appointing former President Rawlings as the AU High Representative to Somalia.

He said the former President has a lot of experience and expressed optimism that his involvement in the peace process would a positive impact.

Somalia is currently governed by a transitional federal government whose term is due to expire in August this year for a new government to be formed pending the success of the implementation of the Djibouti peace deal which is aimed at achieving lasting peace in Somalia.

The two-day conference, among other things aims to finding ways of mobilizing support to strengthen the capacity of government institutions towards the effective implementation of the peace process.

Former President Rawlings, in his address, also called for concerted effort among regional bodies towards the implementation of the peace agreement.

He said the factions in the conflict, also need to demonstrate a lot of commitment to the process.

“The process requires more commitment,” he stressed, adding that the tenets of freedom, reconciliation and inclusiveness should guide the all partners in the actualization of the peace agreement.

Sheikh Sharif Hassan Aden, Speaker of the Parliament of Somalia, for is part, thanked Ghana for the importance it attaches to the peace process, and called for international support to strengthen their governance institutions.

He assured all the partners of the transitional government’s cooperation to ensure the successful achievement of peace in Somalia.
He also prayed for the success of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), saying the people of Somalia were eager to have peace restored to their country.

Dr. Augustine Mahiga, UN Special Representative for Somalia, for his part, commended AMISOM for the work done in Somalia so far, especially to restoration of peace in Mogadishu, and assured the Mission of the UN’s continuous cooperation and support.