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By H.E. Dr. Mohamed Mohamoud Handule
Friday, March 21, 2008
Introduction
The Transitional Federal Government is guided by the principle that
reconciliation is the basis for resolving the Somali political conflict,
realization of lasting peace and maintenance of functioning governance
institutions in Somalia.
Furthermore, the TFG believes that all Somalis have a role to contribute to
making the reconciliation process successful, and that each individual should
take into account their responsibilities as well as rights to the Somali
nation.
In accordance with the Transitional Federal Charter of the TFG, and implementing
the outcome of the Reconciliation Conference of Somali Clans held in Mogadishu in 2007, the
Transitional Federal Government of Somalia is presenting its strategy for all-inclusive
reconciliation process and the peaceful resolution of conflict.
Approach /method for the Reconciliation process
The TFG’s approach to the Somali reconciliation has two (2) components,
which support each other to create comprehensive, lasting resolution to the
prolonged Somali conflict, namely:
- Community Engagement/local level peace
building
- Reconciliation
between the government and the opposition.
Community Engagement/Local Level peacebuilding:-
The purpose of this component of the reconciliation is
to bring an end to all active hostilities and tensions that exist in some of
the regions, to resolve internal conflicts at the community level, and to
facilitate all inclusive process for the establishment of local administrations
at the District and Regional levels.
Implementation of this part of the reconciliation
programme is spearheaded by TFG, in collaboration with the various stakeholders
of local communities, notably; traditional elders, religious groups, business
community, civil societies, women and local politicians.
The Community Engagement/Local Level reconciliation process
can be further classified into two sections which are inter-linked:
a)
Peace Promotion – Creation of stable environment
The objective of this section is to end or palliate
existing conflicts and violence in some specific communities or regions, so as
to promote an environment conducive for dialogue/discussions. The key to the
success of this phase of the reconciliation is for the TFG to empower targeted
community take ownership of their local peace promotion and to take active role
in the community mobilization and awareness raising efforts, cessation of
hostilities, creating stability and maintaining peace.
The
TFG will undertake this peace promotion initiative in communities where there
is active conflict ‘trouble spots’ and
areas where there is the potential for resurgence of communal conflict.
b) Peace building and
participatory local administrations
The 2nd phase of this reconciliation strategy
is aimed to address the underlying factors that are contributing to the conflict
and the inter-clan as well as intra-clan mistrust at the local communities. The
goal of this intervention is to restore the shattered relations between local
community stakeholders and to revive inter-community co-operation and
partnerships.
The goal of this phase of the community engagement is
to build enough consensuses in the community to fully participate in the
process of setting-up their local administrations at the district and regional
levels.
The TFG has already initiated a reconciliation process
and facilitated local administrations in some of the communities, and is
planning to extend this peacebuilding process in all the remaining regions of
the country.
N.B:
The
Transitional Federal Government of Somalia believes that the development of effective,
representative administrations, restoring public services, enforcing the
security and justice institutions, and stimulating the local economy are
central to realizing meaningful reconciliation and maintaining peace and
stability in the local communities.
I. Political Dialogue between the
opposition and the government
- The
Transitional Federal Government of Somalia is prepared to open
dialogue and reconcile with the Somali opposition groups.
- The
TFG-is prepared to accept for the venue of the discussions, any place
where the government and the opposition both agree.
- The
Transitional Federal Government proposes
that one track is utilized for the dialogue, in order to achieve the political
reconciliation, and suggests the appropriate route to be through a facilitation
team made of the most committed members of the international community
under the leadership of the UN-Special Representative of the Secretary
General for Somalia
- The
TFG-proposes the facilitation team from the international community to
present the modalities and the timeframe for the discussions between the
government and the opposition.
- The
TFG encourages the international community to assist the government,
opposition and the international community facilitation team to make the
political discussions and the reconciliations process successful. The TFG
appeals to the most committed members of the international community and
the UN- SRSG in particular to provide as urgently as possible financial
support accordingly.
- The
TFG-will nominate a team to lead the discussions with the opposition
groups and make recommendations for the government.
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Mohamoud Handule
Ambassador extraordinay and plenipotentiary
The Embassy of the Somali Republic
Moscow, 117556
Simferopolsky Bulvar. Dom 7a, Kv. 145
Somali Embassy in Russia
Russia
[email protected]