US Seeks Coordinated, Sustainable Somali Strategy

In Washington, a US Senate panel held a hearing Wednesday on developing a coordinated and sustainable strategy toward Somalia. The Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs took testimony on "the new offensive launched by militant extremists." Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson says despite a transitional federal government in place, Somalia is in crisis. "Approximately 43 percent of the Somali population relies on humanitarian assistance to survive and nearly 500,000 Somalis have fled the country and now live in overcrowded refugee camps throughout the region," he says. Clans, militias, warlords and terrorist organizations control most of the country, not the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Carson adds, "The blight of piracy off the coast of Somalia is without question a symptom of the instability and insecurity within Somalia. Without stability in Somalia there can be no long-term resolution of the piracy problem." The US blames much of insecurity in Somalia on the al-Shabaab militia, which it accuses Carson says US aims for sustainable Somalia policyofbeing a terrorist organization. Al-Shabaab is trying to overthrow the TFG. "The resolution of these problems calls for a comprehensive solution that provides stability,promotes reconciliation, economic opportunity and hope for the Somali people," says Carson...more..http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2009-05-20-voa42.cfm