Somali MPs appeal for international help

• Leaders want the mandate of the African Union forces deployed to Somalia changed to enable them fight militia groups.

• MPS urge Somalis to drop their arms for peace and reconciliation.

Mr Ameriko commended the Kenyan Government efforts to ensure that its borders are not used to transport Al Shabab recruits to Somalia.

“The Al Shabab want to destabilise Somalia and the problem they are creating in Somalia if is not stopped now then it will spread not through Mogadishu, not through Somalia but eventually it will go to the neighbouring country,” said Mr Ameriko.

He added that the government is working hard and was gaining ground but called on the international community to increase military and humanitarian aid. He also welcomed the recent communique by the Inter Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) to blacklist businessmen in member countries who were sponsoring the fighting.

Kenya and other regional countries under Igad, frustrated by violent uprising against the Somalia government, have opted to blacklist suspected financiers as they ponder over possible sanctions including freezing assets of the insurgents.

An extra ordinary council of ministers meeting at the weekend, to immediately impose sanctions on individuals and entities in and outside Somalia who have become obstacles to peace in the horn of Africa country. The sanctions will include travel bans, freezing of assets and other measures.