:. Somali Information Minister vows to continue peace efforts
Kashmir Watch, April 26
Somalia’s Information Minister Mr. Dahir Mohamud Gelle with Kashmir Watch correspondent Muhyadin Ahmed Roble.Photo: Ibrahim Da'ud
Somali government has repeatedly said they would take over Mogadishu, capital of the lawless and war-torn nation in the Horn of Africa as young Somalis and Kenyans trained in Kenya and prepared to join government offensive against rebels, according to media sources. But Somali and Kenya governments already denied recruits of young Kenya.
Kashmir Watch correspondent Muhyadin Ahmed Roble met Somali’s Information minister Dahir Mohamud Gelle in Nairobi and interviewed him before back to home.
The minister speaks issues about plans against Islamist insurgents, forces trained in Kenya and corruption in the government.
Below is the full text of an exclusive interview with the minister of Information.
Kashmir Watch: Government already said they will carry an offensive against rebels in Mogadishu and will take the capital, are you still planning that offensive?
Gelle: As you know, Somalis people need to get security and safe place so we are planning that national forces reach every village in the country to protect our people. We are not invading to Somalis but we are going to reach whole of the country. Our people need the government and its forces and also government needs to reach them. Government decided that national forces reach anywhere in the capital and all Somali soil.
Kashmir Watch: Government said the end of March, insurgents will rout from capital. March is ended, when will you take over the capital?
Gelle: Let me say first. We don’t want to invade other Somalis, but we need to work together as to protect our people and build our nation. Unfortunately we didn’t success that ambition. I can not access to tell you time and a day because that is the job of defence ministry but I can confirm you that our decision is to take the capital and parts of the country.
Kashmir Watch: As information minister, may you share with us the number of government forces those planned to take over Mogadishu?
Gelle: I know that we planned more and more powerful troops as defence ministry and commanders applied. But please, don’t ask me more about government forces because it is military report.
Kashmir Watch: The number? Are you saying hundreds or thousands?
Gelle: Government has more forces but I don’t want to tell you the number of troops, those will take over the capital because the commanders will decide the number and also it’s a secret.
I want to tell you that we reached the time for government forces and very citizens will meet with government forces in his village and in front of his house.
Kashmir Watch: What about troops trained in Kenya?
Gelle: Yes, there are government forces those trained in Kenya and ready to be a part of government mission in southern Somalia to restore peace in region. They will be back home and will do their mandates for the nation.
Kashmir Watch: Are they yet in Kenya?
Gelle: No comment.
Kashmir Watch: People need to know
Gelle: Please don’t ask me again.
Kashmir Watch: What about their number?
Gelle: I don’t know .
Kashmir Watch: Somalia Monitoring Group says that Kenya is secretly training to 2,500 Somali youth from Somalia and ethnic Somalis in Kenya. What is your respond?
Gelle: Yes, there are Somali troops trained in Kenya but we are sorry reports saying Kenyan teenagers were trained for Somali government. Government does not need Kenyan or foreign recruits. We need Somali recruits and Somali trained forces, not foreigners.
Young Somalis like to be soldier or police so there is not need other foreigners. However, we are so sorry that report which was not trustful and reality one.
Kashmir Watch: You planned to capture Mogadishu, where civilians live in and what about residents safety measures?
Gelle: We like that all Somali people back to Mogadishu. We want refugees in Dhadhaab and Ifa back to their homes and also those in Elasha Biyaha. We are not saying residents out of yours homes but what we need is to reduce the hurt and damage of civilians. We are planning protecting civilians. We hope that government and residents will be together and success to restore security in country.
Kashmir Watch: How will you help civilians in the war-zone?
Gelle: Our mandate is protecting the population, even insurgents, because we are their government so first we are trying to avoid damaging our people but if it happens we will treat them.
Kashmir Watch: What about the people killed so for?
Gelle: We do not want to lose our people or to kill so if a Somali person die or wound we says sorry because it was not our plan and we would try to do our best for protecting them. We would try to help orphans and also injures.
Kashmir Watch: Residents in Mogadishu accused government troops for stealing money and mobile phones, what are you saying about that?
Gelle: Alhamdulilah! That is good to hear. You can accuse government troops and even abuse them but what about rebels. They kill civilians without reason and no one can say any comment. But if our forces makes mistake people can accuse them even thought to the media. They can even abuse commanders not only troops so that is good thing.
Anyway, we built a military tribunal. When government troops are operating, they would not be alone but officials from the tribunal are accompanying with them and also media, especially state media so they will face their charges.
They are human and always people make mistakes but we will reduce their mistakes.
Kashmir Watch: Is there any corruption in the government?
Gelle: Yes, but we are dealing with it and fighting against the corruption. It is also so low, not high.
Muhyadin Ahmed Roble is a Somali freelance journalist reporting for Kashmirwatch and lives in Nairobi. He can be contacted at: Muhudin01@gmail.com
