London BBC World Service “Focus on Africa” program (in English) — 1705 GMT

It’s been a bit of a bad year so far for General Aidid, the leader of the Somali National Alliance, the SNA. It started with his former financier, Osman Ato, accusing him of being the main obstacle to peace in Somalia. Then in the wake of the UN’s withdrawal from the country, fighting broke out again in Aidid’s stronghold in the south of the capital, and today Aidid was deposed as leader at a meeting of the Central Committee of the SNA, at which he came in for some sharp criticism. From Mogadishu, our correspondent Ali Musa Abdi faxed this report:

Unexpectedly, the conference has elected Osman Ato to be chairman of the Somali National Alliance. Ato accepted his appointment after members of the faction’s Central Committee unanimously expressed their support for him. During today’s heavily guarded conference, many delegates criticized Gen. Aidid accusing him of misleading and isolating the SNA. Ato accused Aidid of sabotaging all international efforts to rescue Somalia. He invited the international community to come back and help Somalia although he criticized the UN’s heavy- handed attitude toward the SNA. Abdirahman Ahmed Fagadi, a senior member of the conference blamed Aidid for hampering the national peace process. He said Aidid put his personal ambition before the common interest of the whole nation.

Aidid’s main rival, Ali Mahdi Mohamed, who controls North Mogadishu, sent a delegation to today’s conference. It was led by Hussein Kadare, one of Ali Mahdi’s right hand men. Kadare said although North Mogadishu people opposed Gen. Aidid, they do not oppose his whole Habr Gedir Saad clan. He said if Aidid’s wild ambition is halted, this will be the beginning of a new era of reconciliation for Somalia.

The conference has decided to limit the powers of the new chairman by appointing three deputies who will be elected tomorrow. A senior member of the conference said Gen. Aidid’s mischievous behavior has taught us not to give absolute power to the chairman. Gen. Aidid’s radio has described today’s conference as a meeting of opportunists who are being manipulated by foreign powers.

_{FBIS-AFR-95-112, 12 June 1995, p. 9}