Washington, D. C. (Mar 12) - During a Press Briefing today, Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson Bureau of African Affairs made it clear that the stance of the United States government is to support the Djibouti peace process.
Assistant Secretary Carson stated,” …the United States does not plan, does not direct, and does not coordinate the military operations of the TFG (Transitional Federal Government), and we have not and will not be providing direct support for any potential military offensives. Further, we are not providing nor paying for military advisors for the TFG. There is no desire to Americanize the conflict in Somalia.”
The Djibouti peace process is an African-led initiative which enjoys the support of IGAD, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
Currently the Transitional Federal Government, headed by President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed is still dealing with day-to-day acts of violence and terrorism focused on the peoples of Somalia led by extremist elements such as, as al-Shabaab. These extremist elements have chosen to reject any peace plans, and continue to terrorize the otherwise peaceful citizens of Somalia.
Assistant Secretary Carson also expressed his concerns regarding the food and aid distribution programs. The Somalia Monitoring Group has expressed concerns regarding the diversion of food and assistance in Somalia. The Assistant Secretary remarked that, “The State Department has received the draft report and we are reviewing it carefully. I will not comment on that report because we have a representative from our Bureau of International Organizations who can answer those questions. But we are concerned about the troubling allegations that are contained in that document.”
Joining Assistant Secretary Carson for today’s press briefing was Ertharin Cousin Ambassador to U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome. Ambassador Erhtarin addressed the report regarding the diversion of aid to the Somalian people.
Ambassador Ertharin Cousin
Ambassador Cousin, remarked “Next week, the Security Council will meet and receive the regular 120-day report from the Chair of the Somalia Sanctions Committee that will include a briefing on the committee’s discussion of the SMG’s final report. The Somalia Monitoring Group report contains a number of recommendations, including those regarding the work of the World Food Program in Somalia. We at the U.S. Mission to the UN agencies in Rome are active members of the executive board of the World Food Program. This board regularly examines the work of the World Food Program and the perils its dedicated staff face around the world, particularly in places like Somalia.”
The Ambassador ensured those that the State Department will continue to provide as much support require to help guide the, World Food Program in addressing the concerns raised in this internal report.
Ambassador Cousin stated, “We will continue to work to ensure that the generous contributions of the American people to support the work of the World Food Program are managed in an accountable and transparent manner. We express our gratitude to the WFP staff for their commitment to meet humanitarian needs in the most difficult of circumstances. The United States remains strongly committed to meeting the humanitarian needs of the people of Somalia. We continue to seek ways to ensure that the Somalian people receive the assistance they require.”
Both Assistant Secretary Carson and Ambassador Cousin then opened the floor for questions and answers.
Source: US State Depart Press Release, photo’s courtesy of US State Department
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