Opinion & Analysis
Ethiopia, Eritrea fuelling Somalia war
Armed militants from Somalia’s Hizbul Islam rebel group take position as they guard a roadblock in southern Mogadishu. Violence in Somalia has killed at least 21,000 people in the failed Horn of Africa nation since the start of 2007 and driven another 1.5 million from their homes.” Photo/REUTERS
Posted Wednesday, February 10 2010 at 00:00
Efforts should be directed at sponsoring local projects with the help of religious and clan leaders perhaps fronted by the Arab League.
At the risk of sounding unfashionable, the US must consider clearing Sheikh Dahir Aweys and other amenable elements in al-Shabaab from the terrorists list.
This will take wind out of the sails and mobilise moderates to rally behind the government.
Notably, Al-Shabaab, is not a trans-national threat for the US and they are widely frowned upon by locals at home who dislike their strict interpretation of Islam.
On the coast, Western ships must be stopped from dumping their industrial waste and overfishing the Somalia waters.
To topple over anti-Westernism, reparations must be made to Somalia and driven towards rejuvenating agriculture.
Nyawachi is a fellow at the Institute for African Progress
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