 (SomaliNet) The brave leader of the Somali opposition groups based in Asmara, Eritrea, Sheikh Sharif Sheik Ahmed said on Friday they would not open talks with the current Somalia transitional federal government until the Ethiopian forces are in the soil of the country.
| "They're ucky, and they keep us from getting what we want." |
Sheikh Ahmed told reporters while safely in Asmara that his Coalition of restoring liberation in Somalia is not ready at present to hold talks with the new prime minister and his down-sized cabinet. "Before we sit with them and discuss issues, we are requesting that the Ethiopian troops should be pulled out of entirely our country," he said. "To end the crisis in the country through dialogue sounds good, but we are indicating that this could be barrier to the government as long as the Ethiopians remain in Somalia and no dialogue could be possible at the moment," said Sheikh Ahmed who is now in Asmara, Eritrea.
| Of course, his desire to evict the Aethiops doesn't extend to actually fighting them inside his own country. |
The Islamist leader welcomed the recent offer by the Somali's new prime minister Nor Adde saying that they would talk with oppositions in anywhere in the world as positive step. "The premier's comment was good but before starting negotiation with the government we suggest total withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia," he stressed.
The dismissal by the Islamist leader seems to be severe blow to the efforts by the Somalia prime minister in which he wants to end violence through peaceful means. "We like to solve the problem but it is not first to think about ending the crisis before the Ethiopian occupation," said Sheikh Ahmed who is believed to be moderate leader.
| Moderate compared to whom, exactly? |
Some analysts say if the government and the opposition groups came together and reach agreement it would bring that the Ethiopian forces withdraw Somalia and back home. Somalia's political stalemate can not be solved with conditionalized talks, said Abdiaziz Hassan, Somali journalist safely in Nairobi. "I think the opposition needs to change their position as long as the government is open for dialogue. If they reach a consensus which all sides involve in it, it will pave the way strong African Union force deployment and Ethiopian troops to leave," |