- 2007 Somali National Reconciliation Conference
The 2007 Somali National Reconciliation Conference was held from
15 July 2007 until30 August 2007 [http://allafrica.com/stories/200708290891.html] inMogadishu ; it was announced on1 March 2007 byAbdullahi Yusuf Ahmed , the President of theTransitional Federal Government (TFG). [http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/8052] [http://allafrica.com/stories/200703030187.html]Preparations
More than 3,000 people from all of Somalia's regions and clans as well as from the
Somali diaspora participated. [http://english.people.com.cn/200703/19/eng20070319_359027.html] TheUnited States had announced their support for the conference. [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-03/22/content_5878995.htm] Moderate islamists in exile inEritrea had also been invited, [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6214470.html] but had refused to attend.It was originally planned to be held from
16 April until mid-June, but was postponed thrice, first to15 May 2007 , [http://english.people.com.cn/200704/12/eng20070412_365714.html] then to14 June 2007 [http://english.people.com.cn/200704/19/eng20070419_367801.html] and finally to15 July 2007 . [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6747999.stm]Events
When the conference finally opened on
15 July 2007 , it immediately adjourned until19 July 2007 to allow for more delegates to arrive, since the moderate Islamists had not yet ended their boycott of the conference. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6899684.stm] The conference building was being attacked with mortars on that date, as well, and again on17 July 2007 . [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6217948.html]The conference eventually opened for real on
19 July 2007 ; however, moderate islamists andHawiye clan elders still boycotted it, claiming that the venue were not neutral. Islamists have scheduled a conference inAsmara instead.There was an 11 point program to be discussed at the conference, including the holding of elections. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6905958.stm] According to commentators, little was achieved at the conference. [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=74031]
ee also
*
2002 Somali Reconciliation Conference Further reading
* " [http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2007-07-19-voa7.cfm Diplomat Optimistic Somalia Conference Will Bring True Peace] " in Voice of America news, July 19, 2007.
* " [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/world/africa/16somalia.html?ex=1342238400&en=8bc792b02c384def&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss Somalia Reconciliation Conference Opens, but Soon Stalls] " in The New York Times, July 16, 2007.
* " [http://allafrica.com/stories/200707161100.html Somaliland Boycotts to Attend the Reconciliation Conference] " in allAfrica.com, July 15, 2007.
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