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Somalia: Fears for human rights in looming conflict

19 December 2006, 09:52AM

Amnesty International warns that an escalation of fighting in Somalia is likely to result in serious and widespread violations of international humanitarian law by all sides. Grave abuses of the human rights of civilians, particularly women and children, may be expected.

The conflict would also inevitably create massive new internal displacement and out-flows of refugees.

Amnesty International therefore urgently calls on all parties to the conflict, as well as the international community, to put the protection of civilians, respect for human rights and civilian access to emergency humanitarian assistance at the forefront of their concerns.

On 6 December, the UN Security Council passed a resolution authorising a regional peacekeeping force in Somalia under the auspices of the regional Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and the African Union (AU).

The mandate of the 8,000-strong IGASOM force is principally to protect the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and train its security forces. There have been increasing clashes between a large pro-TFG Ethiopian force in the country and the forces of the Council of Somali Islamic Courts (the Islamic Courts).

The Islamic Courts have said they will fight the IGASOM force too, although it will be some time before it could be deployed.

Reiterating that human rights protection must be an integral part of conflict resolution in Somalia, Amnesty International presses for special attention to be paid to the urgent human rights and humanitarian issues, particularly at the Khartoum peace talks due to resume soon between the TFG and the Islamic Courts.

Background

The TFG was established in 2004 as a result of two years of peace talks between armed clan-based factions after 13 years of state collapse. However, despite international recognition the TFG has not established itself beyond its base in Baidoa town.

It is supported by a large Ethiopian force called in by TFG President Abdullahi Yusuf to defend the TFG against the forces of the Islamic Courts. In June, militias of the Islamic Courts in the capital Mogadishu defeated faction leaders previously linked to the TFG, and extended their control throughout all of central and southern Somalia.

In October the Islamic Courts declared jihad ("holy war) against Ethiopian troops in Somalia, and called for the removal of all "foreign forcesԔ from Somalia. In November, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced preparations for war against the Islamic Courts.

In addition to creating further obstruction to emergency humanitarian aid for flood victims and setting back international assistance plans for reconstruction and development, the enlarged conflict could affect other countries in the region and possibly re-ignite the tense UN-monitored border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

On 29 November the UN Security Council condemned increasing flows of weapons into Somalia in new breaches of its 1992 arms embargo. Its monitoring group reported violations by 11 states, including Ethiopia in support of the TFG, and Eritrea in support of the Islamic Courts.

The Islamic Courts, which demand an Islamic state for Somalia, restored peace to Mogadishu and ended years of massive human rights abuses against civilians by armed factions.

There is, however, deep concern among Somali human rights defenders about the impact of the Courts interpretation of Islamic law (ShariҒa) imposing far-reaching restrictions on human rights, womens rights and freedom of expression.

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