(SomaliNet) The European Union has called for on Wednesday a revival of the peace process in Somalia and suggested a possible international peacekeeping force in the war-torn country should be an African-led operation. After talks with European members of the group in Brussels German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters that the international contact group for Somalia will meet on Friday in Nairobi to discuss sending peace-keepers to Somalia. Germany currently holds the rotating EU presidency. Steinmeier said a potential peace-keeping operation in war-torn Somalia "will rather be of African origin" and called on Somalia's interim government to engage in peace talks with Islamist groups. They're defeated, run out of town. Why invite them back in?
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Sweden's foreign minister Carl Bildt called for an "inclusive political process" in Somalia. Europe was ready to support the country "with humanitarian aid, reconstruction help and diplomatic efforts," he added. However, EU forces as well as United Nations and African Union troops were already overstretched with peace-keeping operations worldwide, Bildt said. "There might be the need for (peace-keeping) forces to assist a political process (in Somalia)," he said. "But sending forces without (having) that process would be a recipe for disaster," Bildt added. He also said that it was unclear who would finance a possible African-led peace-keeping mission in Somalia.
Steinmeier also voiced concern over a spill-over of the conflict to neighbouring Kenya. The country has stepped up its refugee screening because of the possible influx of Islamist militia members. European members of the International Somalia Contact Group include Britain, Italy, Sweden and Norway. A top official from the EU commission, the bloc's executive arm, also attended the meeting. The group was set up in June last year to support "peace and reconciliation" in Somalia. It also includes Tanzania and the United States.
Somalia's interim government wants Ethiopian troops to stay until a peacekeeping force is deployed. But analysts say the continued presence of foreign troops could further weaken the regime. The fate of the country, which fell into anarchy after the 1991 ouster of former president Mohammed Siad Barre, hangs in the balance as Ethiopian troops could leave as early as in two weeks, potentially creating a security vacuum.