16/06/08 (B452) XINHUA – Des leaders de l’opposition somalienne sont opposés à la résolution des Nations Unies qui permet à des bâtiments de guerre étrangers de poursuivre les pirates jusque dans les eaux somaliennes. Somali opposition leaders are opposed to the UN Security Council authorization last week for foreign navies to tackle piracy off the Somali coast, a senior opposition official told local media Sunday. (En Français et en Anglais – Info lecteur)

_________________________ Version Française

Somalie : l’opposition contre l’intervention étrangère dans les eaux somaliennes

L’opposition somalienne est contre la décision du Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU d’autoriser l’entrée de navires militaires étrangers dans les eaux samaliennes dans le cadre de la lutte contre la piraterie, a déclaré un responsable de l’opposition, cité par la presse somalienne dimanche.

Abdifatah Mohamed Ali, membre de l’Alliance pour la relibération de la Somalie (ARS) qui est basée à Asmara, en Erythrée, a dit à Shabelle Radio que la communauté internationale avait « un motif ultérieur » derrière cette décision.

« Les pirates continuent à détournent les bateaux alors que des bâtiments de guerre étrangers sont en mer, ce qui montre que l’objectif n’est pas de protéger les navires, mais d’usurper note côte et piller nos ressources maritimes », a dit M. Ali.

Depuis l’année dernière, une trentaine de bateaux ont été détournés par les pirates. Ces derniers ont relâché la plupart de leurs proies en échange contre des rançons.

Un groupe islamiste Al-Shabaab a menacé cette semaine d’attaquer les navires militaires étrangers dans les eaux somaliennes. Son porte-parole Shiek Muqtar Robow Abu Mansoor a déclaré que le groupe combatttrait ces navires « juste comme il combat les troupes éthiopiennes ».

__________________________ Version anglaise


Abdifatah Mohamed Ali, a senior member of the opposition Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia (ARS) based in Asmara, The Eritrean capital, told Shabelle Radio that the International community has « an ulterior motive » behind its authorization for foreign warships to fight pirates.

« Pirates are still abducting ships while foreign warships are at sea, that shows the aim is not to protect the ships but to usurp our coast and loot our marine resources, » Ali said.

The United Nations Security Council recently authorized foreign ships to protect ships off Somalia’s pirate infested coastline, one of the longest in Africa and the most dangerous shipping route in the world.

Nearly thirty ships were abducted since last year and most of them were released after hefty ransom was paid to the pirates.. French commandoes pursued and apprehended a number of them after an abducted French yacht was released off the Somali coast.

Early this week, the Islamist group Al-shabaab threatened to attack any foreign war ship in Somalia’s territorial waters. Its spokesman Shiek Muqtar Robow Abu Mansoor said that his men would fight the ships « just like they fight Ethiopian troops ».

The Somali transitional government and the opposition leaders on Monday signed a comprehensive agreement in Djibouti after ten days of talks sponsored by the UN. Both agreed on a 90-days renewable ceasefire agreement which should be effective throughout the war-torn Horn of Africa nation.

The two sides also agreed that the Ethiopian troops will withdraw within 120 days after UN peacekeepers are fully deployed in Somalia. A 15-member joint committee chaired by the UN envoy to Somalia will visit the country and make sure the implementation of the Djibouti agreement.

Abdifatah Mohamed Ali, a senior member of the opposition Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia (ARS) based in Asmara, The Eritrean capital, told Shabelle Radio that the International community has « an ulterior motive » behind its authorization for foreign warships to fight pirates.

« Pirates are still abducting ships while foreign warships are at sea, that shows the aim is not to protect the ships but to usurp our coast and loot our marine resources, » Ali said.

The United Nations Security Council recently authorized foreign ships to protect ships off Somalia’s pirate infested coastline, one of the longest in Africa and the most dangerous shipping route in the world.

Nearly thirty ships were abducted since last year and most of them were released after hefty ransom was paid to the pirates.. French commandoes pursued and apprehended a number of them after an abducted French yacht was released off the Somali coast.

Early this week, the Islamist group Al-shabaab threatened to attack any foreign war ship in Somalia’s territorial waters. Its spokesman Shiek Muqtar Robow Abu Mansoor said that his men would fight the ships « just like they fight Ethiopian troops ».

The Somali transitional government and the opposition leaders on Monday signed a comprehensive agreement in Djibouti after ten days of talks sponsored by the UN. Both agreed on a 90-days renewable ceasefire agreement which should be effective throughout the war-torn Horn of Africa nation.

The two sides also agreed that the Ethiopian troops will withdraw within 120 days after UN peacekeepers are fully deployed in Somalia. A 15-member joint committee chaired by the UN envoy to Somalia will visit the country and make sure the implementation of the Djibouti agreement.