Elections & Ethiopian withdrawalJanuary 2009

“I am heading off to Djibouti from 15^th to 30^th January. People are vying for the presidency – there had been a plan to have a very limited election in Baidoa but we have fought against this for a much broader process in Djibouti. Under the TFG charter the election should have happened within 10 days, which has long expired. It’s important the process doesn’t get hi-jacked.

People are worried about security on the ground as the Ethiopians withdraw and there seems to be a power struggle developing within the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) as well.

We need resources to create a very strong alliance of people who will put Somalia first – this would be a loose grouping, at least to begin with. Resources are needed to facilitate informal and formal discussions, roving advocates etc.”