Kenyan envoy sees new Somali govt by June 18

[Gabbal]

By William Maclean and Nicholas Kotch

 

 

 

Mr. Bethuel Kiplagat

NAIROBI, June 3 — If optimism is the mark of a diplomat, Bethuel Kiplagat is a true professional. The veteran Kenyan negotiator, mediating Somalia's 14th bid to make peace in a decade, said on Tuesday he expected warring factions to wrap up seven months of talks by forming an interim government in two weeks' time.

 

 

''Our target is the 18th (of June) to have a president,'' Kiplagat told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the peace conference of 361 delegates near Kenya's capital Nairobi.

A retired foreign ministry official involved in African conflicts for decades, Kiplagat does not subscribe to the common view that Somali clan leaders are uniquely argumentative.

''One of the things I have been fighting against is that people tell me that Somalis are the most difficult people. I tell them this is not true. They are like any of us -- hot-headed, difficult, but you talk with them and look, they are still here and the (peace) process is still going on.''

Kiplagat, a suave, silver-haired figure whose sharp business suits mark him out from the more casually dressed militia chiefs he mingles with, suggested he enjoys chairing the talks.

''There is humour, there is laughter, there is anger,'' he said. ''You'll be bored because sometimes they repeat themselves. But have you been to the U.N.? It is boring like hell! There are no fireworks whereas here at least we have some anger and some humour.''

Somalia has been wracked by civil war since the overthrow of military ruler Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991. A transitional government controls only a part of Mogadishu while everywhere else numerous warlords hold sway.

Peace talks began in Kenya last October, bringing in more factions than ever before. Many previous attempts to end the conflict have failed, defeated by wrangling between rival clans.

 

RAPID TIMETABLE

Kiplagat said the total bill for his peace process since October last year was $13-14 million with most of the funding coming from the European Union and its member states. He said U.S. financial support was modest and Washington was not ''focused'' on the issue.

Kiplagat laid out an almost implausibly rapid timetable for the talks. He said that in the next two weeks he expected the delegates to agree an interim federal charter for the lawless southerly regions of the country.

The Kenyan gathering would also form a parliament that would elect a speaker, deputy speaker and president of an interim government. The president would appoint a cabinet before leading his government back to Somalia to take up office in Mogadishu.

Kiplagat, who said he already had the names of ''six or seven'' presidential hopefuls, admitted that the delegates have not yet agreed on the size of parliament. He said delegates were talking variously of a body of 450, 225, 331 or 171 members.

''We will compromise,'' he said.

The talks will not rake up the sins of the past, he said, as it might threaten the broad representation of clans attending the talks. The conference is the most representative political gathering ever held of Somali's mostly southern-based warlords.

''We can deal with the problems of atrocities committed later but not now,'' he said. ''We have everybody here and that's what will determine the success of this.

 

Source: Reuters, June 04, 03

[Thinkerman]

Today is the 10 of June any update on the situation.

[Gabbal]

This is how it's going so far, Shujui.

 

 

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NOVIB SOMALIA

SOMALIA NATIONAL RECONCILIATION CONFERENCE

MBAGATHI, KENYA

 

Supported By

 

EC Somalia Unit

 

Oxfarm Netherlands

 

The plenary adjourns - June 9, 2003

 

On 9th of June, the plenary debate on the Charter adjourned following the advise of the working committee. The original committee had split into two and produced two different reports, a charter based on a federal system and one on unitary system. The Harmonization Committee produced a general report as part of the harmonization exercise while the Leaders Committee published their view on the issue. The chairman of the committee gave an overview of the reports and warned that they could not be debated by the plenary given the differences inherent in them.

 

As a result of the discussions, Amb. Kiplagat suggested for the working committee to meet in full number and use all the reports available in order to produce a harmonized version, for what they will be free to make consultations with stakeholders. He asked the Leaders Committee to remain in the compound to facilitate this task. He advised the working committee to meet and write a progress report on the areas of agreement and those that require compromise. After consultation with the plenary it was agreed that the working committee to submit an interim report by Tuesday (10th) or Wednesday (11th) and the full report to the plenary on Thursday.

 

Reaction of the some plenary members

Prof. Mohamed Ali Abokor, a member of the harmonization committee co-chaired by Prof. Abdi Ismail Samatar said that it was not prudent for the split to be mentioned to the plenary. He was as well dismayed by IGAD's decision to give preference to the Leaders Committee's report over the Harmonization Committee one.

 

Mr. Ashara of the Puntland Administration believes that it is possible to harmonize the two reports as the existing difference is little if not complicated. He added that the differences are on the two systems proposed, when and how to implement, the number of the national assembly members and who will appoint them. He said that the disagreement on the Executive (Prime minister and President) had already been overcome.

 

Mr. Ibrahim of the Civil Society argued that the group is not likely to harmonize and the best way would have been engaging prominent lawyers, political scientists and experienced personalities on institutional building to carry out the exercise.

 

Ali Da`un and Muktar Ali Yussuf said that it was irresponsible of the working committee to submit two reports because what the Somalis want is one charter and not the division that already exist in Somalia. They understand Amb. Kiplagat point as a warning and if they do not come up with harmonized report, then a decision to intervene will be made.

 

The plenary was full today but the only political leader present was the TNG Prime Minister, Mr. Hassan Abshir Farah while others were represented by their deputies. The political leaders, who escorted the body of the late Gen. Aden Abdullahi Nur Gebyow to Buale of Middle Jubba region, Somalia are reported in Kismayo. Col. Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed of Puntland is still away though expected soon. Others in Nairobi who include Hussein Farah Aidid and Mohamed Khanyare Afrah among others, were represented by their loyals.

 

The discussion on the Charter is the last task for the Phase II plenary of the Conference. Following discussions and debate around the other five reports produced by the Reconciliation Committees, final work on the Charter will mark the transition to Phase III and, therefore the appointment of a new government for Somalia.