International   

Land the world forgot

Simon Tisdall

London: The foray of Hilary Benn, the U.K.'s International Development Secretary into war-torn, drought-plagued Somalia last week was a brave attempt to focus attention on the land the world forgot. Few politicians have ventured there since the central Government collapsed in 1991 and warlords took over. Visiting a camp for displaced persons, he pledged an additional £8 million in humanitarian and educational assistance.

But Mr. Benn was peddling more than handouts, homilies and good intentions. His additional offer of £1.5 million ``to support the functioning of the Parliament and Ministers'' represented a clear British commitment to Somalia's political rehabilitation. It was the sort of initiative expected of a Foreign Secretary.

And it contrasted sharply with the Bush administration's current attitude. The U.S. is increasingly pursuing a proxy war against Al-Qaeda-backed jihadis that analysts say is turning Somalia into a new front in the ``war on terror''. Badly burned there in the 1990s, nation-building is not Washington's main concern.

``The U.S, is treating Somalia primarily as a counter-terrorism issue. That is the prism through which everything there is seen,'' a source said on Monday. ``Britain is taking a broader, more holistic approach. It believes that is the way to stop Somalia being a problem in the longer term. That's why Mr. Benn was there, discussing a wide range of issues.''

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

TULF leader seeks Karunanidhi's help
Ex-Soviet states form new group
Gas price issue delays pipeline
Thaksin returns to work
UAE to aid Turkmenistan project
Bush, Blair to discuss Iraq exit
Teheran closes newspaper
Land the world forgot
Fiji Cabinet sworn in
India a major investor in Russia

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu