[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 26 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S1868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 77--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL 
                   GOVERNMENT OF THE SOMALI REPUBLIC

  Mr. INHOFE (for himself and Mr. Brownback) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the committee on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 77

       Whereas, after the collapse of the Somali government in 
     1991, the main judicial system in Somalia devolved into a 
     system of sharia-based Islamic courts, which have increased 
     their power to include security and enforcement functions;
       Whereas, in 2000, the courts consolidated to form the 
     Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which came into conflict with 
     secular warlords in the capitol city of Mogadishu by 
     asserting its ever increasing power;
       Whereas, the ICU is known to have links to Al-Qaeda and has 
     provided a safe haven for members of Al-Qaeda;
       Whereas, by June 2006, ICU forces controlled Mogadishu and 
     much of southern Somalia, creating a potential haven for 
     Islamic terrorists;
       Whereas, in 2004, the Transitional Federal Government of 
     the Somali Republic (TFG) was formed in Kenya;
       Whereas, in 2006, the TFG army joined forces with the army 
     of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to sweep the 
     ICU from power and, after a string of swift military 
     victories, enter Mogadishu; and
       Whereas, the current situation is still volatile, creating 
     a short window of opportunity to positively affect Somalia's 
     stability and future status:
       Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the Senate expresses its support for the Transitional 
     Federal Government of the Somali Republic;
       (2) the Senate recognizes Ethiopia, particularly Prime 
     Minister Meles, and Kenya for the noble efforts aimed toward 
     pursuing peace in Somalia and support for the United States 
     in the War on Terror;
       (3) the United States should support and push efforts for 
     serious multi-party talks aimed at establishing a national 
     unity government in Somalia;
       (4) the United States should take several measures, at an 
     appropriate time, to promote stability;
       (5) assistance from the United States will better equip the 
     TFG to face the challenges of restoring peace to this war-
     torn country;
       (6) the United States should promote foreign investment in 
     Somalia and facilitate financial and technical assistance to 
     the TFG; and
       (7) the United States should aid the TFG to--
       (A) locate and free Somali-owned financial assets 
     throughout the world;
       (B) solicit support from other friendly countries; and
       (C) encourage nongovernmental organizations to commit more 
     resources and projects to Somalia.




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