Nairobi talks end in "success", border reopened

Four days of peace talks between the Somali Transitional National Government (TNG) and factions opposed to it came to a close in Nairobi on Sunday, with both sides claming the talks had been a success and announcing that they had agreed to meet again for further reconciliation talks. As an immediate sign of progress, Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi also announced on Monday that the Kenya/Somalia border would be reopened immediately.

A date for future talks was not given, but will be announced by "the heads of state of the front-line states - Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia" at a time to be mutually agreed, according to a joint statement issued by the parties to the talks. According to the statement, the agenda of the proposed conference includes the implementation of all previous resolutions on Somalia adopted by the Organisation of African Unity, the United Nations Security Council and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development.

The agenda also includes items on clan-based power sharing, renunciation of violence as a means of settling political differences, and cooperation with the international community on eradicating terrorism. The agenda also provides for all Somali state laws to be reviewed "in accordance with the requirements of the reconciliation process", said the statement.

Both the TNG and the Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) delegations expressed satisfaction at the result of the talks. The TNG spokesman, Abdirahman Dinari, described it as moving the reconciliation process "a step forward". Mawlid Ma'ane of the SRRC said the talks had proved that Somalis were capable of talking and reaching agreement. "We are moving in the right direction," he added.

President Moi, who in opening the conference on Thursday promised that if the talks succeeded, he would reopen Kenya's border with Somalia, had now declared it open "effective today", the Kenyan assistant foreign minister, Muhammad Affey, told IRIN on Monday. Moi closed the border in July, citing a spillover of insecurity in Somalia as the reason.

Affey said the talks had been successful, "and formed the basis for further reconciliation to deepen the Arta process". Arta is the town in Djibouti where the Somali peace talks resulting in the establishment of the TNG took place last year. The TNG has now requested the reopening of the Somalia's Nairobi embassy, which has been closed for the last decade. "The request is being considered, and I am hopeful that the response will be positive," said Affey.