Violence Amid Somali Peace Talks
National Reconciliation Conference Continues Despite Deadly Attacks
Somalia's interim government met with representatives from the nation's major clans to discuss the future of their country while a wave of attacks rocked Mogadishu.
After several postponements, Somalia's National Reconciliation Conference finally happened on July 14 but was delayed until July 19 because of a series of deadly attacks. More than 1,200 delegates from of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government, clans and factions are meeting to address a comprehensive agenda aimed at restoring order to a country plagued by anarchy for the past 16 years. The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), who held Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia for six months last year, are boycotting the event.
When talks reconvened, violence erupted outside when suspected Islamist insurgents launched mortar bombs aimed at the venue. At least five children were killed while playing soccer and an elderly person also died in the fatal misfire.
After another brief suspension, talks resumed on July 21 but again, insecurity in Mogadishu overshadowed the event. Joint Somali and Ethiopian forces were targeted in grenade attacks that marked the 15th consecutive day of violence in the city. Reuters reports witnesses saying that one policeman and two civilians died in the assault.
The scene of the latest bloodshed was Mogadishu's Bakara market, which is Somalia's largest open-air market and is notorious for its selection of small arms and weapons. The Bakara market is also believed to be a hideout for Islamist militants. Security forces are expected to search all shops for arms on July 22.
The conference
Although the Associated Press (AP) wrote that 1,200 delegates met for the conference on July 19, The Washington Post's Foreign Service said that only about 700 attended. Some clans sent junior representatives instead of clan elders while the UIC maintained that they would not attend any meetings until Ethiopian troops left Somalia. AP also reported that Shabab, the radical wing of the UIC, declared that anyone taking part in the conference would be "sentenced to death."
Talks, which have been postponed several times, are aimed at restoring Somalia's international reputation, resolving clan rivalries, dealing with property disputes, creating a new constitution and planning national elections for 2009.
Refugees
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), up to 10,000 Somalis have fled Mogadishu since violence has resumed. During June and July, approximately 20,000 have returned to Mogadishu while 21,000 have left. From February to May, the UNHCR estimates that 400,000 civilians left Mogadishu and that only 125,000 of them have returned according to their statistics.
The daily violence has killed many innocent bystanders caught between the anti-government Islamist militia and Ethiopian and Somali troops who, according to some Mogadishu residents, have retaliated indiscriminately to attacks. The insecurity has prompted some families to consider joining the exodus.
The African Union recently decided that AMISOM, the AU peacekeeping mandate in Somalia, would remain in Mogadishu for another six months. There is currently a contingent of 1,600 Ugandan soldiers in the broken city and the AU is struggling to increase this amount to 8,000 soldiers.
