The African Union Mission in Somalia(AMISOM) says it has heard reports that hard-line Somali oppositionleader Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys arrived Thursday in Somalia's capital,Mogadishu. Aweys, who has been accusedof having links to al-Qaida, had been living in Eritrea's capital, Asmara,after Ethiopian troops drove him and his supporters from their strongholds insouthern Somalia and Mogadishu.
His faction of the Alliance for theRe-Liberation of Somalia is a member of the Islamic Party, which has beenopposed to the new government of President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed.
MajorBarigye Bahoku is spokesman for the African Union Mission to Somalia. He toldVOA AMISOM would welcome Aweys' return but is anxious toknow the message he's bringing to the Somali people.
"AfricanUnion Mission for Somalia has received the same information that Sheik DahirAweys has returned to Somalia, and we believe that's a step in the rightdirection because this country is for all the Somalis. And every opinion, everyidea, especially at this stage matters. So I think what remains to be done orwhat remains to be seen is the message that Sheik Dahir Aweys will bring thepeople of Somalia. If he is coming back with a message of peace, with a messageof stability, with a message of reconciliation for all the people of Somalia,that will be great," he said.
Bahokusaid AMISOM's mission has been about creating an atmosphere where all Somaliswould feel comfortable to discuss issues affecting their country.
"AsAMISOM, that's what we have been working for, that's what we have beenstruggling for to ensure that all the Somalis can sit, have dialogue abouttheir problems and indeed agree to resolve their long-standing conflict bydialogue as opposed to violence," Bahoku said.
A U.N.Security Council resolution has designated Aweys as a terrorist, but he hasrepeatedly denied having ties to international terrorists.
Bahoku said there was alwaysa way out of what he called the dilemma of Somalia.
"As AMISOM, our view will bethat any means available at bringing back peace to the people of Somalia shouldbe taken advantage of, should be exploited maximumly. That, however, does notmean that people, for example, who have committed crimes against humanity,crimes against individuals cannot be brought to book," Bahoku said.
Aweys' faction of theAlliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia is a member of the Islamic Party,which is opposed to the government of President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed.
Obsevers say his return to Mogadishucould be an indication he may want to reconcile with Ahmed.
Bahoku said President SheikAhmed has been reaching out to his foes since the signing of the DjiboutiAgreement last August.
"This country has beenwithout stability, has been without peace, has been without law and order forover 18 years or about 18 years. And as a result of that, so many factions havecome out, and therefore the approach of reconciliation, the approach of bringingeveryone on board is an approach that should be applauded," Bahoku said.
He said AMISOM mightconsider meeting and talking to Aweys, although it is not their mission to meetwith individuals.
"As AMISOM, our law is not tosurely meet with individuals or to arm up any individual. Our law is to createan environment where all the individuals, where all the groups in this countrycan feel confident enough to discuss their conflict, to discuss their problems.So yes we may think about talking to him, about approaching him, but surelythat wouldn't be a priority for us," Bahoku said.