Somali Peace Talks Won't Be Derailed, Says Minister
By Tony Kago

September 15, 2004 - (The Nation - Nairobi) Women's under-representation in Somalia's transitional parliament will not derail the country's peace
process, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.

Mr John Koech, of East African and Regional Affairs, said it was "extremely difficult" to accommodate every interest group's wishes in the peace talks.
Speaking in his Nairobi office when he met the Algerian envoy to Kenya, Mr Mohammed-Hecene Echarif, Mr Koech said: "This is a practical problem, not
an infringement on the reconciliation charter. It will not derail the process."

He, however, promised that the matter would be discussed when ministers of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development meet in Nairobi today.
Last week, Somali women said there was a plot to under-represent them in the federal parliament.

In a letter, they asked human rights organisations, the international community and Igad member states to make sure their selection met the 12 per cent rule for women.

Addressing journalists at Chester House, Nairobi, about 50 women accused faction leaders of denying them fair representation.

According to the reconciliation charter, women are entitled to 33 of the 275 seats. However, in a statement released after a two-day meeting in Nairobi, the women leaders said they had only been given 21 seats.

Members of the newly-formed parliament are expected to elect a speaker today and a president on September 22.

The peace talks are aimed at forming an effective government, which Somalia has lacked since 1991, when warlords toppled dictator Mohammed Siad Barre.

Since then, no authority has been able to control the country and warlords have ruled clan-based fiefdoms by the bullet.

Yesterday, Mr Koech said there were plans to bring Mr Mohamed Siad Hersi, better known as General Morgan, on board.

Mr Hersi reportedly declined to participate in the peace talks and is being accused of building up troops, weapons and ammunition for a possible assault on the strategic port of Kismayu.

But Mr Koech said he was optimistic the factional leader would respond positively and that effective consultations were going on.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200409150065.html