Kibaki to lead delegation on Somalia conference

President Kibaki will lead a high-powered Kenyan delegation to a conference on Somalia in London meant to pull together international effort.

Top officials from more than 40 countries and multi-lateral organisations converge in London on Thursday with the aim of delivering a new international approach to Somalia.

They will discuss how the international community can step-up its efforts to tackle both the root causes and effects of the problems in the country and way forward after expiry of the Somalia Transitional Federal Government term in August.

Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula who arrived from Turkey on Sunday said Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, Defence’s Yusuf Haji and himself would be part of delegation to London.

UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon, Uganda President Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi are also slated to attend the crucial conference.

Mr Wetangula said Somalia leaders have come up with a structure to be used to govern the country when the transition ends on August 20.

The troubled horn of Africa country is to adopt federalism with devolved units and strong apex at the top, Mr Wetangula said.

The minister was hopeful the UN Security Council will approve Kenya’s Defence Forces plans to join the African Union forces and increase of soldiers to 17,700 before the London meeting.

On Sunday, a section of Somalia leaders meeting in Nairobi took issue with the London conference saying the UK government did not properly consult them on the agenda.

Led by MP Awad Ahmed Ashareh, they demanded priority be given to strengthening and establishment of Somalia security forces and that the international community sidelines the current administration for misusing the country’s resources.

"The international community should stop giving legitimacy to leaders who do not practice transparency and accountability in use of public resources," Mr Ashareh said.

They said Somalia’s President and other leaders contravened the country’s laws through recent agreements signed in Garowe, Puntland in meeting convened by international community.

Somalia Speaker Nunow Mohamed also described the agreements as illegal.

They also told Western countries to stop dumping toxic waste on Somalia waters, over-fishing and British and Italian governments compensates Somalia for the atrocities their forces committed in the country prior to independence.

They said foreign forces operating in Somalia must enter into rules of engagement with the country and respect its laws.

On Sunday, the Somalia civil servants led by Abul Fartaag discussed an executive report in Nairobi on mismanagement of state funds by country’s former prime minister, current PM and ministries.

Despite the efforts of the African Union, the United Nations and the international community, international policy towards Somalia has not been succeeding.

After 20 years of sliding backwards, Somalia needs a step-change in effort – both from the international community, but also Somalia’s political leaders.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague was in Mogadishu and Nairobi early this month to lay ground for the conference.