Somalia: Extremists Urged to Give Peace A Chance
By Peter omondi
Mogadishu, Somalia – The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Tuesday pledged to continue supporting Somalia achieve lasting peace as well as assist the needy population access free medical treatment. A mother and child healthcare project was also launched.
“Somalis are tired of the protracted war that has been going in their country for the last 19 years and simply want to live in peace and enjoy life like any other people in the world”, Somali leaders and AMISOM officials reiterated at a ceremony to mark the African and World Peace Day in Mogadishu.
Addressing a large crowd attending the colorful celebration hosted by AMISOM and which was also attended by several government officials including ministers, lawmakers and district commissioners from Wadajir and Dharkenlay districts, two of Mogadishu’s safest districts, AMISOM Force Commander General Nathan Mugisha reaffirmed AMISOM’s resolve to continue supporting the Somali people and its government.
“AMISOM is only here to help the Somali people. This is why we have gathered to celebrate the African and World Peace Day in Mogadishu. As part of these twin celebrations we wish to urge the groups who are still fighting the government to cease fire even for a day to give the Somali population a breathing space. If they do so I don’t know why they cannot cease fire for the rest of the other days, months and possibly years to come because without peace Somalia cannot prosper and achieve development,” General Mugisha said.
The General also launched a Mother and Child Healthcare Survival Project to be undertaken by AMISOM in partnership with the Coalition of Grassroots Women Organizations (COGWO). The project seeks to address health challenges facing women and children who are the most vulnerable groups in Somalia.
In the last two days, AMISOM has also distributed sundries, beddings, clothes, toys and other household items it received from various donors and well-wishers to over 1000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s), patients and other needy Somalia. These items were part of 14 containers that AMISOM received from well-wishers and some of which were also handed over to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Resettlement and the Mayor of Mogadishu for further distribution to the 16 districts in Mogadishu.
“The Somali people are ready to embrace peace, they are ready to live in harmony and enjoy life just like any other people in the world. They have been denied peace by a very small group of Somalis majority of who are very young boys who have no knowledge of what peace is and who have been misled by foreign militants who have no regard for life or peace whatsoever,” Mogadishu mayor Mahamud Ahmed Nur.