Good hope from Somalia reconciliation conference

Mugadishu, Saturday, July 14, 2007 Simba Radio

National reconciliation congress will try again to overcome the damage done in 16-year civil war
Construction workers are struggling against the clock to convert a dilapidated police garage into a football field-sized convention hall. But an even bigger rebuilding challenge awaits the hundreds of Somali political and tribal leaders who are scheduled to gather there tomorrow in an effort to heal wounds from 16 years of civil war.

Billed as a national reconciliation congress, the much-anticipated meeting has been postponed three times amid concerns about funding, security and threatened boycotts.

Experts say the conference probably will be a combination of political deal-making, ceasefire talks and a massive group-therapy session.

Formal repentance and forgiveness are sometimes more important to resolving disputes in Somali culture than dividing power and money, experts say. Many say an official reconciliation among Somalia 's warring clans is the missing ingredient that has prevented the Horn of Africa nation from restoring peace and security since the 1991 collapse of the Mohamed Siad Barre dictatorship.

It's a time-tested ritual in Somalia and other African nations: When tribes clashed, whether over stolen cattle or murdered clansmen, elders from each side gathered under the largest acacia tree, sometimes for months, airing grievances and venting frustrations. Perhaps out of sheer exhaustion, parties usually came to terms.

The proposed national reconciliation conference will attempt to do the same work on a far larger scale. There will be 1,325 attendees, mostly clan leaders from all over the country. Original plans to invite 3,000 proved too unwieldy and expensive, particularly when considering the need to provide housing, food and security.

Organizers are bracing for 75 days of talks to ensure all parties get a chance to be heard.

Once the conference starts, no one's quite sure what to expect. Complaints could well date back a decade or longer, when Somalia 's clans began fighting over land, resources and control of roads and ports. Millions of people have been displaced over the years, losing homes, cattle, land and businesses.

More recent disputes include the legitimacy of the transitional government and whether all clans are fairly represented. The government's heavy reliance on Ethiopian troops is another hot issue. Some people are expected to push for a formal power-sharing agreement with the Islamic Courts Union, a religious alliance that lost control of Mogadishu in December but remains popular with some clans.

Shouting matches and passionate debates are likely, organizers say, but if all goes well, the event should end with handshakes and hugs.

Similar conferences have helped bring stability to Somaliland and Puntland, two semi-autonomous regions in northern Somalia .

Several attempts at a national conference have broken down. since 1991, because they focused on satisfying warlords and politicians, rather than traditional clan leaders who hold real power.

The question now is whether the conference will actually be able to convene and, if so, whether all sides will attend.

Security is another worry. Insurgents have detonated roadside bombs near the heavily protected venue and are launching near-daily attacks in Mogadishu .

Some people want to use the conference to shuffle the government, electing new members of Parliament or even a new prime minister. Others want to focus strictly on clan grievances.