NAIROBI, 12 May 2008 (IRIN) -
Representatives of Somalia's Transitional Federal
Government (TFG) and an Eritrea-based opposition
alliance were gathered in Djibouti on 12 May for
peace talks, with the government expressing optimism
about the outcome.
"We are hopeful and optimistic that once discussions
start we will find common ground and a solution to
our problems," Abdi Haji Gobdon, a government
spokesman, told IRIN.
However, opposition sources said there had been no
direct talks with the government. "Our dealings have
been with the UN envoy only [Special Representative
of the Secretary-General Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah]."
The Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia,
better known as "the alliance", has repeatedly
refused to open dialogue with the TFG until
Ethiopian troops leave Somalia. However, in April,
they agreed to a dialogue through a third party,
"until a solution is found for the Ethiopian
problem", said the opposition source.
Representatives of Somalia's civil society said they
were pushing for successful dialogue but expressed
dismay that the talks could fall prey to divisions
within each camp.
"Both sides are divided and that is the worrying
thing that could scuttle the process," said a civil
society source in Mogadishu. He said the millions of
people who were either displaced or affected by the
drought "needed the talks to succeed".
He called on the international community to put
pressure on hardliners on both sides.
The talks come at a time when an estimated 2.6
million Somalis need assistance. The figure is
expected to reach 3.5 million by the end of the year
if the humanitarian situation does not improve,
according to the UN.
The fighting between Ethiopian-backed Somali forces
and insurgents has forced up to one million Somalis
to flee their homes, while an estimated 6,500
civilians have been killed since 2007.
