Peace talks "on course" says Kenyan envoy

The Somali peace talks, under way in the Kenyan town of Eldoret, "are on course", a statement issued on Tuesday by the office of Elijah Mwangale, the Kenyan special envoy and chairman of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development's technical committee, has said.

According to the statement, phase one of the talks was successfully concluded last week, with the endorsement of a number of very important issues, such as the "the rules of procedure for the conference, identification of core issues of the Somali conflict, declaration on cessation of hostilities and the structures and principles of the Somali national reconciliation process".

In the second phase, following sustained consultations between the technical committee and the Somali leaders' committee (comprising representatives of faction leaders, the Transitional National Government and five members from civil society), the number of delegates attending the conference is to be reduced.

Also in this phase, six committees are being constituted to deliberate, among other things, on establishing federal government structures and agreeing on practical ways to address the issues of economic recovery, reconciliation, human rights and ethics. It was also expected that "a framework for disarmament, demobilisation, and rehabilitation will be formulated at the conclusion of the talks", the statement added.

It noted, however, that "there persists rivalry and suspicions among factional leaders attending the peace talks. These are issues that are being addressed. Serious negotiations are ongoing as we enter this most important phase."