Peace talks to begin in Djibouti

Representatives of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and an Eritrea-based opposition alliance were gathered in Djibouti on 12 May for peace talks, with the government expressing optimism about the outcome.

"We are hopeful and optimistic that once discussions start we will find common ground and a solution to our problems," Abdi Haji Gobdon, a government spokesman, told IRIN.

However, opposition sources said there had been no direct talks with the government. "Our dealings have been with the UN envoy only [Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah]."

The Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, better known as "the alliance", has repeatedly refused to open dialogue with the TFG until Ethiopian troops leave Somalia. However, in April, they agreed to a dialogue through a third party, "until a solution is found for the Ethiopian problem", said the opposition source.

Representatives of Somalia's civil society said they were pushing for successful dialogue but expressed dismay that the talks could fall prey to divisions within each camp.

"Both sides are divided and that is the worrying thing that could scuttle the process," said a civil society source in Mogadishu. He said the millions of people who were either displaced or affected by the drought "needed the talks to succeed".

He called on the international community to put pressure on hardliners on both sides.

The talks come at a time when an estimated 2.6 million Somalis need assistance. The figure is expected to reach 3.5 million by the end of the year if the humanitarian situation does not improve, according to the UN.

The fighting between Ethiopian-backed Somali forces and insurgents has forced up to one million Somalis to flee their homes, while an estimated 6,500 civilians have been killed since 2007.

ah/mw