POLITICS-SOMALIA: A Bumpy Road To Peace

By Moyiga Nduru Reprint | | Print |

Moyiga Nduru

NAIROBI, Nov 25 1997 (IPS) - The close-door meeting in Cairo, Egypt, by Somalia’s belligerents marks the latest attempt to end the six- year civil war in that country.

The parley, brokered by the Egyptian government, has brought together Somalia’s main factions of the Somali National Alliance (SNA) and the Somali Salvation Alliance (SSA). Both SNA leader Hussein Aideed and SSA’s Ali Mahdi had shunned dir Aideed and Mahdi in the talks will speed up the progress towards a peaceful solution to Somalia’s conflict,” said a pro-Aideed official halled the Council of Presidency. It will comprise 13 members, including the President and the Prime Minister.

But the method of selecting the Prime Ministeration conference. He argues that the two main factions should share the two top pos But his arch rival, Mahdi, disagreed. “Mahdi prefers the Prime Minister to be appointed by the Council of Presideon clan groupings … Following the deadlock, the participants have formed a technical committee to resolve the probleion in 1995 and the sharp drop in the number of foreign aid agencies willing to risk operating in Somalia, jobs are scare.

On top of the job scarcity, Somaliaix weeks.

The aid agency Cooperative for American Relieffirst time that a spate of natural catastrophes has hit the Horn of African country.

Between 1h Aideed, whose armed opposition to the mission led to its demise, in June 1995, declaried to collect taxes and enforced his authority from his south Mogadishu headquarters. Only Libya recognisen other parts of the country, clan-based fiefdoms have emerged and, since 1991, the north-western region has proclaimed itself independent as Somaliland.

lf president of Somalia.

But the animosity bet conference was held here in October 1996 under the aegis of Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi. Followiailed, because they excluded the emerging civil society and Islamist groups.

“The conflict in Somalia can only be resolvedblems. They should hold such meeting inside Somalia whether under a tree, or in a school, mosque and dcome out with a solution,” said Ali Dualleh, a former Somalia ambassador to Klowing the overthrow of former dictator Siad Barre in 1991.