SOMALI activist Rakiya Omaar, whohelped establish Africa Watch andserved as its executive director forfour years, has been dismissed foropposing the United Nations militaryintervention in Somalia.
Omaar said she believed thearrival of USA-led troops "withoutprior consultation with Somalia'sunderground and with the relieforganisations" would escalate theviolence. Africa Watch, on the otherMud, has been appealing for UN military protection for food supp'liesand, according to the Organisation, Omaar ha*d been fired for "failure to above the- maximum laid down by abide by our internal policies".
Since the landing of the UN forces in mid-December, events have moved rapidly, including the secur- ing of Mogadishu and Kismayo ports safe limit of 50 parts per million asand the escorted arrival of food con- laid down by the EC. voys. The UN force also arranged a face-to-face meeting between rival Somali warlords, which led to a peace agreement.