Somalia’s new Defense Minister Barre Hirale said he rejects military intervention of African forces in his country, pointing out a disagreement on this issue among members of the government, the London-based A-Sharq Al-Awsat reported.
Hirale said he has no faith in Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional grouping of seven eastern African countries. He said he does not believe these troops will be capable of defusing the current tension in Somalia, adding that training and financing Somali forces would yield better results.
Islamists have also rejected the notion of foreign forces. Islamists seized control over the capital Mogadishu and other areas in the south of Somalia in the past two months.
The United States is concerned about developments in Somalia, fearing the rise to power of Islamists will turn Somalia into a safe haven for terrorists.
Ethiopian forces are reportedly in Somalia to defend the transitional government.
The second round of talks between the interim government and the Islamists is scheduled to begin in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on Wednesday, under the auspices of the Arab League.