US wants to help Somalia find stability

• Top diplomat meets African leaders to discuss the way forward in Mogadishu

US assistant secretary of state for Africa Johnnie Carson, on Monday hinted that Washington was keen on finding a lasting solution to instability in Somalia.

He spoke after a marathon meeting of African leaders called to consider the way forward in Mogadishu.

The comments did not reveal much but inside the meeting diplomatic and security sources said a lot of ground was covered — but apparently not enough for Uganda.

Uganda, represented at the meeting by President Museveni, who later left Foreign minister Sam Kutesa to continue, has been pushing for fast reaction to the threat posed by al Shabaab, the militant group affiliated to global terrorist outfit, al Qaeda.

The al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the July 11 terror attacks in Kampala, which left more than 80 dead.

A Cabinet level source said President Museveni was unhappy that the US, the most important funder of the peacekeeping effort in Somalia, had not “written a sizeable cheque” for the expanded operations anticipated.

“We are looking for more men and money.

“Unfortunately, while Washington has deep pockets, they are failing to commit in definite terms,” the source said.

President Museveni was tight-lipped as he walked out of the hall after his counterparts Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia.

“There is a government spokesman,” he told journalists. Other heads of state were equally opaque about the talks.

“The agenda was Somalia,” was all President Zenawi could say. His troops routed the Union of Islamic Courts, which was in power in Somalia in 2006, and under whom the al Shabaab developed.