Khartoum III talks postponed
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Khartoum, 1 November - The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, left Khartoum today following postponement of the third round of peace talks between representatives of the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC).

Ambassador Fall said later that although the parties were unwilling to enter into direct talks, representatives of the international community had met separately with the delegations in Khartoum. He told the Press that he remained hopeful that differences between the TFIs and UIC could be bridged and that the talks would resume in December.

UN Special Envoy visits Uganda
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Nairobi, 25 October - The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, visited Uganda today for discussions on the Somali peace process. In a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa, Ambassador Fall emphasized the importance of the Khartoum III round of talks scheduled for 30 October and the need for international encouragement to sustain the dialogue between the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) based in Baidoa and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) established in Mogadishu.

The visit to Uganda is part of a seven-nation mission to promote peace and reconciliation in Somalia. In recent weeks, Ambassador Fall has visited Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Yemen for consultations with their respective leaders. Khartoum (30 October) will be the last leg of the current mission.

Special Representative visits Egypt
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Nairobi, 22 October - The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, visited Egypt (20-22 October) for separate meetings with Amre Mousa, Secretary General of the League of Arab States and Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Foreign Minister of Egypt.

Ambassador Fall briefed both on recent developments in Somalia and the need for the international community and neighbouring countries to work together for peace and stability in the country, and for conditions that are conducive for the success of the Khartoum talks scheduled for 30 October between the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). He also briefed them on the Nairobi meeting of the International Contact Group which he attended on 19 October.

The visit to Egypt was part of a seven-nation mission to promote peace and reconciliation in Somalia.

Special Representative visits Djibouti and Yemen
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Nairobi, 16 October - The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, visited Djibouti (12-13 October) and Yemen (14-16) as part of a seven-nation mission to promote peace and reconciliation in Somalia.

Ambassador Fall met with President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti and Yemen's Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs, Abu Bakr al-Qirbi respectively. Their meetings focused on the importance of the third round of the Khartoum peace talks scheduled for 30 October between Somalia's Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC).

Inter-Mission meeting at UNPOS
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Nairobi, 10 October - UN Special Representatives and senior officials from UNMIS, UNMEE, and UNPOS (*) held their first Inter-Mission meeting in Nairobi this week (9-10 October) to exchange views on the political, military and security situations in Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea in particular. The delegations were led by the UN Special Representative for Somalia (Francois Lonseny Fall), UN Special Representative for Sudan (Jan Pronk) and Acting Special Representative for Ethiopia and Eritrea (Azouz Ennifar). The meeting paid special attention to inter-state relations and the role of regional organizations, including IGAD, the AU and the League of Arab States.

(*) United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS)

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