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Two delegations from Djibouti arrived in Somalia in an attempt to persuade Somali leaders to participate in a peace conference now expected to take place on 2 May, AP news agency reported. The conference was supposed to run from 20 April to 5 May, but was halted by controversy and anti-Djibouti demonstrations in Somalia the day before it was due to begin. On Wednesday one delegation from Djibouti met with leaders in Baidoa, capital of Bay region in southern Somalia, and the other delegation visited Hiran region in central Somalia. The four-member delegation led by Iddris Harbi Farah, a parliamentary official was welcomed by the head of the Rahanwein Resistance Army (RRA) which controls
the Bay region, and the local governor. The RRA has been among the most outspoken of the factions opposing the talks in Djibouti, but has participated recently in talks with Djibouti officials, AP said. In the last two weeks, Djibouti delegations have visited Puntland, Mogadishu, and Somaliland to try and persuade the different factions and leaders to participate in talks which are the brainchild of Djibouti President Ismael
Omar Guelleh, and supported by international bodies including the OAU and IGAD.
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