Ould-Abdallah: Somali extremists pose threat to neighbouring countries

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 15 (KUNA) -- UN Special Representative for Somalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah warned late Thursday that the security crisis in Somalia is no longer regional and that the extremists, who include a number of very-well funded foreigners, pose a threat to neighboring countries.
"The objectives of the extremists pose a real threat to the neighbouring countries, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region and countries afar "Their ambitions go well beyond Mogadishu and Somalia," Ould-Abdallah told the Security Council in an open meeting.
"Recent well publicized international and regional developments have shone a new, stronger spotlight on Somalia. The crisis, which has become more than ever a tough challenge, can no longer be ignored. Indeed the conflict is no longer local or even regional. It is global," he added.
He urged the council to send a "clear and effective message, backed by concrete action," to the spoilers inside and outside Somalia, who fund the extremists. He did not mention any country by name.
He noted that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia has made significant progress, despite repeated armed assaults to overthrow it by externally funded extremists, and urged the council to concretely support it.
He praised it for drawing up a budget for the first time in years, presenting its priorities and plans; recruiting and training security forces, keeping its political legitimacy over violent and extremist groups and remaining open to all Somalis who are ready for dialogue and reconciliation. He warned, however, that Somalia is moving from a failed state to a fragile state.
"To prevent the situation from deteriorating further, and spilling over into the region and further afield, we should join the dots. In Somalia the international community still has some good cards," he said.
He warned that the absence of a concrete commitment and a determined international policy towards Somalia and its present leadership, and the absence of effective action, as well as the continued hesitation, have encouraged the extremists and weakened the Government.
These extremists, he stressed, have made it clear that "their agenda is global and that Somalia is an easy and convenient entry point." He noted that these extremists include many foreigners who seek "not only to overthrow the Government by force, but also to oppose the establishment of any Authority. Their ultimate objective is either to maintain a permanent state of anarchy or to establish a militant state." Ould-Abdullah urged the donor countries which pledged USD 213 million in aid to Somalia in their conference in Brussels last April to honor their pledges.
He complained that while the Government does not have enough money to pay the salaries of the security forces, its opponents and allied extremists receive "unlimited and unchecked financial support." To come out of the crisis, he urged the International Community to depart from past practices of uncoordinated efforts and individual diplomatic initiatives, including one after another reconciliation conferences and meetings.
"A common policy objective must be supported. In that context the Djibouti Agreement should remain the means through which the combined efforts of the Somalis and their international partners achieve progress. In the face of the mounting danger, sitting on the fence is no longer an option," he stressed. (end) sj.tg KUNA 150901 Jan 10NNNN