Worse Than Darfur?

Does the U.N. have the political will to send troops? When you talk to Americans about Somalia, what they know is the story of "Black Hawk Down."
Yes, but I think that picture is now changing. If yesterday Somalia was seen as such, today I think it is being seen in a different way. And these changes I think will also bring about the possibility to engage troops from Europe, America and Arab [countries].

Southern Somalia has some nice beaches. How long will it be until we see foreign tourists visiting them?
That is the best question you've asked [laughs]. When I was forming the cabinet, I was asking myself whether a ministry of tourism is needed or not. But there is a long way to go. We are focusing on security today. But tomorrow we will have a ministry for tourism.

Some people say Somalia is the third front in the war on terrorism for the United States, after Iraq and Afghanistan. How do you react to that?
My reaction would not be far from that. I don't know whether [we'd be] fourth or fifth or whatever, but one of the fronts definitely. Not because of the current presence of terrorism but because we have the [possibility] of terrorism. I think the best weapon to combat that is reconciliation. I believe that.

© 2008