‘Hands Off Somalia’ protest held in London

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

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Hundreds of Somalis have joined “Hands Off Somalia” (HOS) protest outside the Lancaster House in London, where Somali Federal Government President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud co-chaired with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The demonstrators, gathered in central London on May 7, believe the conference is to further the interests of British imperialism in the region, including controlling the shipping lanes and natural resources in the African country.

According to the HOS’s official website, “Britain, through the UN, is enforcing a new sectarian federal government model on to Somalia, to ensure it can divide and exploit the nation.”

The protesters accused President Hassan of suppressing federalism, saying that they do not want western governments to intervene in policy making.

“President Hassan does not want a federal Somalia, he has violated the constitution by suppressing and sabotaging the establishment of federal states,” said a protester outside the conference.

Earlier in April, Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague opened a new embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia, 22 years after its ambassador fled the African country following a civil war.

In his visit to Somalia last year, Hague described the African country as "the world's most failed state”.

Somalia, however, is a strategically important country, not only for its position on the Horn of Africa, but also for its recently confirmed energy reserves.

The country has not had an effective central government since 1991, when warlords overthrew former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

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