Peace deal due to be signed

Four days of peace talks between the Somali Transitional National Government (TNG) and factions opposed to it ended in Nairobi on Sunday, with both sides claming the talks had been a success and that a peace deal was to be signed in the Kenyan town of Nakuru on Monday, a Kenyan source told IRIN. The talks brought together a high-ranking delegation from the TNG led by the interim prime minister, Hasan Abshir Farah; members of the Somali Restoration and Reconciliation Council (SRRC) led by its secretary-general, Mawlid Ma'ane; and members of opposition factions other than the SRRC. These included representatives of Mogadishu faction leaders such as Husayn Aydid's Somali National Alliance and Umar Finish, the deputy of Muse Sudi Yalahow who leads the United Somalia Congress/Somali Salvation Alliance. The talks, which were convened by Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi, were initially thrown into doubt by the refusal of some faction leaders to participate. The SRRC, a grouping of southern factions, said in a statement on 11 December that the SRRC would not take part in the talks, "because the TNG is claiming to be the legitimate government". The sides were expected to issue a joint statement today in Nakuru after the signing ceremony at President Moi's residence in the town, the Kenyan source said. Diplomatic sources told IRIN that "the success of the talks will depend on how much of what is signed is implemented on the ground". If Usman Ato, a Mogadishu faction leader, and Finish were " truly on board, then it could have very positive implications on the security situation in Mogadishu", said one. In another development, Jama Ali Jama, the president of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, arrived in Nairobi on Sunday evening, a Kenyan source told IRIN. Jama was elected on 14 November by a general congress of representatives of the constituent regions of Puntland to form the region's second government and put an end to existing leadership wrangles in the region. Sources close to the Puntland leader told IRIN on Monday that Jama had gone to Nakuru. It was unclear whether he was there for the peace deal signing ceremony, or to make a courtesy call on Moi, the sources added.