Abdi Samatar is a Somali-American professor at the University of Minnesota who has done extensive research on African and Somali political economy. He is also vice-president of the African Studies Association of North America. Samatar said today: "The famine is a politically and militarily induced affair and the culprits are: the U.S. (and its allies') 'war on terror' strategy and involvement in Somalia, IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] and its Ethiopian instrument, al-Shabaab - and most clearly the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) - which has yet to make any effort to come to the rescue of the population.
"Here is what I think should be done immediately and in the long run: bring food and medicine to the villages where people are so those who are still there need not move. Secondly, set aside resources for livelihood reconstruction as it has begun to rain. Finally, thoroughly revamp the TFG so a more legitimate and effective national government can be brought about, which is the best defense against terrorism and famine." Read the full report here.
Source: Info Zine.com.
