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afrol News, 16 October - Yesterday the Somalia National Reconciliation Conference was opened by President Daniel arap Moi in Eldoret, western Kenya. Dozens of failed Somali peace conferences curb optimism, but the fact that practically all parties are participating is raising hopes. Amara Essy, head of the African Union, in his address to all the delegates assembled at Eldoret appealed for the reconciliation conference to "demonstrate a sense of compromise, with a view to realising true reconciliation in the best interests of the people of Somalia, who have suffered from the conflict for more than a decade." Kenya's Foreign Minister Marsden Madoka told delegates: "For the first time since these meetings have been taking place, we have virtually everyone together, and this augurs well." He added that "those who are not yet here are on their way." Also other delegates to the conference tried to stick to an optimistic image. Hassan Abshir Farah, Prime Minister of the "Transitional National Government" in control of most of Mogadishu, told UN observers that "the Somali warlords come like us in goodwill and readiness." He was convinced "the result will be very outstanding and we will establish a broad-based government." Indeed, a large number of warring fractions are present in the Kenyan town. Groups include the Mogadishu government, several Mogadishu warlords and faction leaders from several parts of the war-ravaged country. Even a delegation from the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland in north-eastern Somalia is present at the Eldoret conference. Further, among the 450 participants, there were many representatives from political groups, civil society groups, including women's groups and the Somali Diaspora. Several international agencies and institutions were also represented to broker between the fractions. Also the United Nations, which play an important role in Somalia, were widely represented at Eldoret. The UN was calling on those attending to adopt a set of humanitarian principles which would facilitate the delivery of relief supplies in the war-ravaged nation. "In return for that guarantee, the UN pledges that international agencies would be impartial, proportional, accountable and transparent in their delivery of assistance to Somalis," a statement said. While delegates and observers were trying to give an optimistic impression, the "agenda" revealed that the Eldoret conference would have a rough road to success. Before the conference goes into full session, all delegates have to arrive - something which still is expected to take days. First then, the different groups could come up with the real agenda of the conference. Somaliland Somaliland's independence has not been recognised by any country yet, but the invitation to Eldoret - sent by the regional body IGAD, grouping seven countries in the Horn of Africa - was noteworthy. IGAD Ministers in September had "re-affirmed a need to invite Somaliland to the conference" but had "however recognised that Somaliland is not to be equated with factions and that the invitation to Somaliland be worded differently from that of other Somali parties."
Sources: Based on AU, IGAD, UN sources and afrol archives
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