Relax, it’s just jihad.
Missing the point, or perhaps willfully overlooking it, in Nairobi. From Reuters: “Don’t exaggerate Somali crisis, African Union urges”
NAIROBI – Despite the murder of a [government] minister, Somalia’s crisis should not be exaggerated and negotiations are still key to finding a political solution, the African Union envoy to Somalia said on Saturday.
“A pimple is being made to look like a boil,” Muhammad Ali Foum said after Friday”s assassination, which stoked international fears of all-out conflict in Somalia.
“There is more violence on the streets of New York and Paris and London than in Baidoa.”
Constitution and Federalism Minister Abdallah Deerow Isaq was shot dead at a mosque in Baidoa, provincial seat of the interim Somali government.
With the Supreme Islamic Courts Council looking to institute Sharia law by force in Somalia, it will be interesting to find out, if it is possible whether the assassination of Isaq, the Constitution and Federalism minister, was an opportunistic act, or a targeted killing.
Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi blamed the attack on “criminals linked to international terrorism”. Protesters burned tyres and looted shops on Friday, but calm returned on Saturday.
[…]
“I wouldn’t put too much into the resignations at the moment,” Foum said. “Power-sharing can only come when the people go back to Khartoum, sit down and talk and sort out what needs to be done by whom, where and when.”
The government boycotted a second round of peace talks in the Sudanese capital Khartoum this month to protest alleged Islamist violations of an earlier pact. It has now said it is ready to go back.
[…]
“We should encourage them to have one common idea: a resolution of the crisis, stabilisation of Somalia and the creation of an environment that can allow the Somalis to … create a government system that will work for everybody.”