afrol News, 29 October - Ethiopian authorities have accused Somalia Transitional Federal Government for failing to restore peace and stability in war torn Horn of Africa state.

Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin told East Africa summit on Somalia crisis that Somalia's problems are not only a security issue, but also political.

Mr Mesfin said president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and his successive prime ministers had not managed to create any institutions of governance since they came to power in December 2006.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia said it is prepared to withdraw its troops from Somalia in line with an accord between transitional Somali government and an Islamist opposition group.

United Nations brokered accord calls for a phased pullout of Ethiopian troops from Somali capital, Mogadishu, and strategic town of Beledweyne beginning next month. The accord calls for a ceasefire to go into effect 5 November, and for Ethiopia's withdrawal to begin 21 November.

Government spokesman Wahde Belay said Ethiopia fully backs agreement signed last Sunday between Somalia's Transitional Federal Government and opposition Alliance for Re-Liberation of Somalia.

Mr Wahde said pace of pullout will depend on ability of African Union peacekeepers and government troops to fill security gap left by Ethiopia's departure, in horn of Africa.

He said agreement reached in Djibouti could clear a way for Ethiopia to end its 22-month military invasion into a neighboring country which has been without functioning government since overthrow of president Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

But Mr Wahde made it clear that Ethiopia's main condition remains a guarantee that adequate force would be available to replace departing troops.

"What has been agreed to by two parties on 26 October will be accepted by Ethiopia," he said. This is actually in line with what Ethiopia has been saying for some time. As long as no security vacuum is created in Somalia, Ethiopia is willing to withdraw," he emphasised.

TFG established in 2004 but its remit never extended beyond backwater of Baidoa region until Ethiopian army invaded Somalia almost two years ago.

The toppling of an Islamist group that had taken control of large parts of the country and started to impose a tough form of Sharia law brought president Yusuf to power but did little to restore calm to a country that has been wracked by violence since 1991.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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