NAIROBI: If President Abdullahi Yusuf had his way, the transitional government of Somalia, which operates from exile in neighbouring Kenya, would relocate to Baidoa, some 220 kilometres southwest of the capital Mogadishu. His other choice is Jowhar, a town located some 90 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu.

Yusuf enjoys little support in the capital, which is controlled by an army of unruly, rag-tag militiamen. He prefers to sit in Baidoa or Jowhar on a temporary basis until all the militias in Mogadishu have been disarmed and security restored.

But Yusuf’s concerns are not shared by some Members of Parliament (MPs) mainly from Mogadishu. They are demanding that the government move to the capital as stipulated in the transitional constitution.

Somalia’s transitional government was formed in Kenya’s capital Nairobi early this year, following security concerns in the Horn of African country.

Unfortunately for Yusuf, fighting broke out in Baidoa early this week, further heightening the rift in the government, over relocation.

Thirteen people were killed and 29 others wounded in the clashes, according to the presidential spokesperson Yusuf Baribari. “We regret what happened. We are appealing to those involved to refrain from any further escalations especially when it has to do with the loss of human life,” he told journalists in Nairobi on May 31.

“Those who are opposed to the relocation plan are against peace and particularly the security of the Somali community. It is unfortunate that after 14 years of war, there can be further loss of life in our region. This is really unfortunate,” Baribari added.

Somalia slipped into chaos following the fall of the dictator Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991. Since then, the country has been ruled by warlords some of whom have declared autonomy or independence.—Dawn/The InterPress News Service.