NAIROBI, KENYA — Islamic insurgents already controlling most of southern Somalia now stand on the outskirts of the nation's capital, Mogadishu. Despite the presence of 20,000 Ethiopian troops for security, President Abdullahi Yusuf has stated that the government could collapse. And suspected Somali pirates repeatedly draw international attention for hijacking ships off the East African coast.
Amid the chaos, Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, part of the United Nations-recognized transitional government formed in 2004, sat down Tuesday with The Times to discuss the troubled Horn of Africa nation.
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President Yusuf says, "There is no government." How bad is it?
We are very sorry to hear from the president that there is no government. Definitely there is. The parliament is there. The president is there. The federal institutions are still alive. Our top priority is the reconciliation process [implementation of a peace deal signed in August in Djibouti with a leading opposition faction]. We believe it is the key for peace in Somalia. Without this, chaos and lawlessness will continue.
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Why has the government allowed insurgents in recent weeks to recapture so much territory without soldiers putting up a fight?
We are trying to provide a secure environment, but there are difficulties. It's happening in an atmosphere of many problems. The internal crisis among top leaders is contributing. Once the crisis is solved, this will not be a big issue. The government, together with foreign troops -- the Ethiopian [support] troops and the [U.N.] troops -- will be able to stabilize the country.
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Are you worried that insurgents might attack Mogadishu?
Absolutely not. Mogadishu is well protected.
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Insurgents appear divided into two groups: those joining the Djibouti reconciliation deal, led by former Islamic Courts chairman Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, and those rejecting it, including the Shabab militia responsible for recent attacks. Will these divisions hurt the peace process?
Definitely the opposition has divided. As a result, today insurgents are coming from here and from there, trying to announce their existence by saying, "We are here. You cannot ignore us. Either make your process more inclusive or we will act."
So I think this can be a manageable situation if the internal crisis of the government can be resolved.
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