Horn of Africa. Subcommittee Chairman, Russell Feingold, calls for more US Involvement

(Version anglaise seulement)

Subcommittee Chairman Russell Feingold, a Democrat from Wisconsin, said the recent rise in pirate attacks in the region is "an outgrowth of [Somalia’s] collapse, lawlessness and economic desperation that have plagued the country for over a decade."

Feingold has called for more U.S. involvement in the Horn of Africa, and has proposed the Obama administration appoint a special envoy for the region.

Carson said that as part of the NSC-led Somalia strategic review, the U.S. government will examine its strategy on piracy.

Touching on Eritrea, a backer of forces battling the TFG, Carson said, "We have clear evidence that Eritrea is supporting … extremist elements, including credible reports that the government of Eritrea continues to supply weapons and munitions to extremists and terrorist elements."

Responding to inquiries from Senator Johnny Isakson, a Republican from Georgia and the ranking minority member of the subcommittee, over what role foreign fighters and terrorist groups are playing in the country, Carson said, "We don’t know the precise nationalities of these foreign fighters or their political affiliation, but we do have a growing body of information passed on to us that there clearly are foreign fighters operating in Somalia." He added that claims of up to 400 foreign fighters in Somalia were "a significant exaggeration."

Carson said there was "clear evidence" that al-Qaida has a presence in the country. "A small number of al-Qaida operatives have worked closely with al-Shabaab leaders in Somalia, where they enjoy safe haven," he said.

Carson told the Senate panel, "This further underscores the importance of urgent and decisive support to the TFG and engagement with states across the region and beyond."

Source:Ecoterra, May 24, 2009

~	Contrôle des loyers: Québec solidaire dépose un projet de loi

~	Stablex – Un bâillon sur mesure pour une entreprise américaine, dénonce QS

~	Budget 2025-2026 : « La CAQ ajoute l’austérité à l’incertitude » – Alejandra Zaga Mendez

~	Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois annonce son retrait de la vie politique en 2026

~	Budget 2025-2026: Face à Trump, Québec solidaire demande à la CAQ de miser sur la résilience

~	Frais vétérinaires abusifs: Québec solidaire demande un meilleur encadrement

~	La CAQ et le PQ refusent de débattre de mobilité, déplore Québec solidaire

~	Crise de l’itinérance: QS propose de convertir les églises vacantes en refuges

~	Journée internationale des droits des femmes – Ruba Ghazal annonce qu’elle déposera un projet de loi pour rendre la contraception gratuite

~	Stablex: Québec solidaire réitère son appui à la mairesse de Blainville et presse le premier ministre de reculer