‘UK cannot recolonize Somalia’

As Britain hosts the London conference on Somalia inviting representatives from over 40 governments including the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, al-Shabaab considers the conference deeply offensive blaming Britain for decades of trouble in their country stemming from the colonial era.

Al-Shabaab spokesman, Ali Dhere, also warned against British-led meddling in the affairs of Somalia as London is to lead an intervention in Somalia in order to secure her interests in the resource-rich country.

“Your peace depends upon us being left alone. If you do not let us live in peace, you will not enjoy peace either. We are telling them this in a loud voice,” said Dhere in an interview with Channel 4.

“We want to inform them that we do not want peace from them. We do not want humanitarian and material help from them. We will build our country and we can do that without them. We don’t need them. Just leave us alone,” he added.

Al-Shabaab also sent a message to British Prime Minister David Cameron, saying “the UK colonized this country for a long time, caused many problems and took its resources. Don’t attempt to come for a second time.”

“You never left our country of your own accord. The masses of this country woke up and forced you to leave. Today, the people are more aware. It is not possible for you to recolonize us. Don’t waste your time. Don’t waste your sons and resources for something you cannot achieve,” the message said.

The warning to the British government comes at a significant time as Britain struggles to fix its reputation ahead of the 2012 London Olympics with the unprecedented unrest in August last year severely damaging London’s image.

Source: Agencies