afrol News, 8 August - Hope of ever returning home to Somali refugees in Kenya is slowly diminishing as fresh fighting between warring factions back home erupts, over control of the country.

Somalia's distress forged by a severe drought and starvation was aggravated by fresh conflicts, which erupted last week, further compromising the country's chances of long-term peace.

"Conflict was unwarranted at a time when the nation was heading towards reconciliation," said Mohammed Hasan Aden, a businessman who fled Somalia in 2002.

Somalia's internationally backed transitional federal government formed in 2004, has since been beleaguered by internal conflicts and latest spat has afflicted refugees with further discouragement.

Prime minister Nur Hasan Husein fired late last month, mayor of capital Mogadishu, Mohamed Omar Habeb Dhere, who is a close ally of president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, over graft allegations.

The move backfired when pro-Yusuf cabinet members resigned, accusing prime minister of misusing state resources.

Mr Nur Hasan Husein has insisted he would not let internal divisions undermine peace process launched in June in Djibouti between Somali government and a section of Islamist-dominated political opposition.

"It is pity to learn that the president of Somalia is masterminding the overthrow of regime," said a Somali living in northern Kakuma refugee camp with thousands of others.

Latest spate of violence erupted in late 2006, when Ethiopian troops attacked Somalia to banish Islamist militia, which briefly controlled large portion of the state.

Remnants of the group along with and allied clans have since waged a deadly guerrilla war against Ethiopian forces and Somali government troops, forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee the capital.

"What I realise is that we will not go home any time soon, our leaders are still to busy playing political games," another refugee living in Hagardheer camp said.

Many Somalis are simply appalled by latest conflict, which has led to an unpleasant situation where Mogadishu is ruled by two competing mayors, outgoing Dhere who has since refused to step down and a new strongman appointed by the prime minister.

The ousted mayor told media that he still regarded himself as the legal mayor of Mogadishu.

"The letter of sacking by the prime minister is only legal when accepted by the president," he reportedly added.

However, newly appointed acting mayor, maintains that he is in control of the city.

According to UNHCR, Kenya is home to at least 100,000 Somali refugees, who fled their country in successive waves following the 1991 ousting of former president Mohammed Siad Barre.

The Horn of Africa country has been mired in civil conflict ever since, defying more than a dozen peace initiatives, with warlords and militias fighting for control and never allowing a central authority to develop.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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