Somalia: US Sees Benefits in Abgal Clan and Ethiopian Deal
Nairobi (HAN) April 12th, 2007 - The Joint efforts between TNG peace committee led by HE Ali Mahdi, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer and Ethiopian Forces has been making great efforts towards establishing lasting peace in Somalia, despite serious challenges in recent months, especially in and around Mogadishu.
As the Somalis talks up the Ethiopian and Abgal Initiative, Ali Mahdi, the chairman of Somali's reconciliation for Peace and Development, suggests potential benefits ahead.
The Hawia and Southern Somali Clans have arguably been given another opportunity to reboot their peace process.
Following the recent deterioration in the capital Mogadishu, the Arab League has decided to postpone Somalia's Reconciliation Conference from April 15 to May 15, 2007. According to the sources close to Ali mahdi In nairobi.
The Arab League announced for the first time that the opposition Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC) would be allowed to participate in the conference.
"The moderate elements within the Somali Islamist Council such as Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad " will be invited to join the conference, said Samir Husni, who is the Arab League official in charge of the Somali file.
The league of Arab States at its recent meeting in Riyadh discussed the situation in Somalia is a very positive sign.
Mogadishu has recently witnessed a spread of renewed violence among remnants of SCIC followers and the Somali army, supported by Ethiopian troops. Hundreds of people have been killed in the latest wave of violence, which caused the delay of the reconciliation conference.
The ceasefire committee for Hawiye tribe called on the TNG and Ethiopian Forces to postpone the national reconciliation conference and turn it into political dialogue. Atto. Hussein Siad QoorGaab, the spokesman for the panel urged the TFG to put off the plan for the reconciliation conference, which is due to take place on 16 April, 2007.
“We are asking for the government to change the formula of the meeting into political dialogue,†added QoorGaab. “there is no fighting between Somali clans but the important is that the government hold political peaceful dialogue,â€
Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer had little criticism about the reports that both Ethiopia and Somali TNG forces could be investigated for war crimes violations for indiscriminately attacking civilians in Mogadishu.
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