London BBC World Service “Focus on Africa” program (in English) — 1830 GMT

Well the USC (United Somali Congress) rebels say they are preparing to set up an interim government composed of representatives from the various rebel groups in Somalia. However, given that those rebel groups are largely based on clans which have been bitterly opposed to each other in the past, Robin White asked the USC’s London spokesman, Mohamed Ruble, whether he thought that there was a risk that fighting would break out between the different groups.

[Begin recording]

[Ruble] I do not accept that proposition simply because after 21 years it is really futile to go on fighting, and after all, there is nothing to fight against. The end that we were all struggling for has come; Siad Barre is gone and we can begin a new page and everybody can take part. So why? I simply do not see any point in it.

[White] Presumably, some movements want a bigger slice of the pie than others for instance the SNM (Somali National Movement) which has been fighting longest in the north battle. They might, perhaps, want the biggest slice of the pie.

[Ruble] I do not think you can divide a pie based on who fought the most. That is not an equitable way of dividing something. We have to find a better way of dividing or sharing rather than dividing.

[White] Perhaps the USC has the most to give away to other parties in that it controls the capital, and will you be prepared to surrender power to other people?

[Ruble] We will share the running of the country with other groups and other Somalis who are not part of groups in an equitable way. Nobody should expect more than their fair share and nobody should get less than their fair share.

[White] You claim that the rebel movements will not start fighting each other, but there are signs already that your movement is split within itself between the people who have been fighting in Mogadishu and a group, led by General Aydid, that has come from outside Mogadishu and is claiming part of the [words indistinct] himself, I think. Now just what is the position?

[Ruble] Gen. Aydid has not been part of the structure of the USC in the sense of the word. He never really attended the conferences of the USC which were held in Rome twice, the inauguration congress and the second congress, and he claims to be USC but I mean you have to be part of the structure of the USC in order to claim to be USC.

[White] So you say he has got nothing to do with your organization at all?

[Ruble] Theoretically, yes.

[White] But he seems to have arrived in Mogadishu claiming to have run the show.

[Ruble] But he is a free man; he can come to Mogadishu. Mogadishu is a free place for all Somalis.

[White] Are you saying he does not have a following?

[Ruble] I am sure he has got some following, but that does not concern the USC.

[White] That sounds like a bit of a headache for you.

[Ruble] Not a headache. If other people make it a headache, it is up to them.

[White] But you have one leader, can you name one leader of your organization?

_{FBIS-AFR-91-019, 29 Jan. 1991, pp. 16-17}