Somali reconciliation conference opened
Somalia, Politics, 10/16/2002

The peace conference in Somalia was opened in al-Dourit in Kenya in the presence of Presidents of Kenya, Uganda and Sudan. Somalia has been effected by a civil war since 11 years.

The Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi opened the 6th conference which will be also attended in particular by war lords and officials for the provisional government in Somalia. The meeting was also attended by the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Uganda's president Mosivini, the secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa and the acting chairman of the African federation committee Amara Issa.

Arap Moi who chairs IGAD -- Which organizes the conference -- said "The Somali people want peace and reconciliation not groups and slogans," adding, addressing the Somalis "If you fail, history will not forgive you." The representative for the Italian foreign ministry Alfredo Mantica said, talking on behalf of western donors who support the peace conference "peace gains" will flow into Somalia in the shape of financing donations in case the conference succeeds.

War lords have been fighting since the collapse of the government of Seyad Berri in 1991 in order to control the Somali territories. They converted this country in the African horn into a group of fighting groups.

Since 1991, some 13 official attempts were made to restore peace to the country. Although some of these attempts ended in signing agreements however, all of them failed to end the struggle.

Previous Stories:
  Somali peace negotiations postponed to October 15   (9/11/2002)
  Ten killed in fighting Somalia   (8/5/2002)
  Clashes between warlords kill 30 in Somalia   (7/25/2002)

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