MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Somalia will soon begin preparation to deploy troops to South Sudan to safeguard the security and the implementation of the peace agreement.
The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) this week endorsed Somalia and Djibouti to be among the South Sudan peace guarantors.
Somali deputy education minister, Abdirahman Jabir, said his country would not hesitate to contribute soldiers to South Sudan.
“Some may ask how is it possible a country like Somalia, that is coming out of conflict and enmity, can contribute to a peacekeeping force. What is stopping us from contributing?” he said, noting that Burundi had sent troops and assistance to Somalia while it was at war itself. “What is stopping us from taking part in peacebuilding in other parts of Africa where there is a conflict?”
Building Credibility
George Musamali, director of the Center for Risk Management in Africa, a security consultancy told VOA IGAD was trying to give the impression that Somalia had been stabilized.
“They are just playing with the minds of the people” in suggesting that Somalia is stable enough to be able to contribute troops to other hot spots, he said. “I think this is a wrong notion because, at the end of the day, al-Shabab is still thriving.”
If approved by the United Nation, this would be the first time Somalia to send peacekeeping forces since 1990 when the country plunged into civil war.
Somalia which is a fragile state is recovering from decades of lawless and anarchy.
Discussion about this post