Political Developments in Somalia:

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Djibouti Agreement
On 9 June 2008, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) initialed an Agreement in Djibouti witnessed by several various countries and regional organizations. The Agreement provides for the cessation of armed confrontation by both Parties for an initial period of 90 days renewable, starting 30 days from the signing of the Agreement; the submission of a joint request to the United Nations to authorize and deploy an international stabilization force, within 120 days from friendly countries, excluding neighboring States; within 120 days, the TFG to act in accordance with the Ethiopian Government’s decision to withdraw its troops from Somalia following the deployment “of a sufficient number of UN forces” and the ARS to cease and condemn all acts of armed violence. Both parties to undertake all necessary measures to ensure unhindered humanitarian access; the establishment of a Joint Security Committee and a High Level Committee to address challenges related to political, justice and reconciliation issues. The convening of a conference before the end of July 2008 to discuss these issues; the organization of an international conference aimed at supporting Somalia’s reconstruction and development within the next six months.

Formation of a new Government:
On 22 November 2007, Nur Hassan Hussein was appointed Prime Minister. On 2 December, he appointed a Cabinet of 73 members, including 31 Ministers, 31 Deputy Ministers and 11 State Ministers. However, following growing criticism from within and outside Somalia, Prime Minister Hussein, in consultation with President Yusuf, appointed a streamlined government largely composed of competent professionals as recommended by the National Reconciliation Congress. On 6 January 2008, Prime Minister Hussein announced the appointment of a new Cabinet comprising 18 Ministers and 5 Deputy Ministers.

The Prime Minister reiterated on several occasions his commitment to engage with all Somalis irrespective of their political affiliations. On 5 December 2007, at a meeting convened in Addis Ababa by the United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, he reiterated the readiness of his Government to reach out to all Somalis who want to participate in a peaceful transition to a democratic regime.

The Prime Minister relocated his office from Baidoa to Mogadishu on 20 January 2008.  Thereafter, he made public statements on his Government’s willingness to restore security, uphold the freedom of the press and promote national reconciliation. The Parliament has remained in Baidoa.

Asmara Meeting
The Congress for the Liberation and Reconstitution of Somalia made up of members of the Islamic Courts Union and former Parliamentarians met in Asmara in September 2007, established the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, elected a leadership and adopted an action plan.

National Reconciliation Congress 2007
From 15 July to 30 August 2007, the National Reconciliation Congress was held in Mogadishu with the participation of 2,600 delegates representing the clans, as well as women’s groups and the Diaspora. It was organized by the National Governance and Reconciliation Committee, chaired by former President, Ali Mahdi Mohamed. The  participants agreed on a number of outcomes including the announcement of an end to all conflicts and feuds between Somali clans since 1991; a call to all Somali parties to voluntarily disarm and return looted property; the urging of the Transitional Federal Institutions to complete the constitutional processes that would lead to a Federal State; the conduct of a census and free and fair elections before the end of the transitional period; the demand for a multiparty political system in the country; and a call upon the Transitional Federal Government to amend the Charter to allow non-parliamentarians to join the cabinet. The leaders of the Transitional Federal Institutions pledged to fully implement the recommendations adopted by the Congress.

Islamic Courts Union
An alliance of Islamic Courts took control of Mogadishu from pro-government forces in June 2006 and then captured other important areas. There were several attempts to arrange a peace deal

Khartoum June – September 2006
After the ICU took control of Mogadishu in June 2006 the League of Arab States hosted a reconciliation meeting in Khartoum. The two sides signed Khartoum I Agreement agreeing to recognize the legality of the TFG, the presence of the ICU and to continue the dialogue. After a second meeting a final communiqué urged both sides to reconstitute the Somali security forces and work towards the reintegration of the forces of the ICU, the TFG and other armed militias but was never implemented.  Fighting broke out in December 2006 in which the Somalis, backed by Ethiopian troops with tanks and air support, defeated the ICU

“Somaliland”
“Somaliland” held peaceful elections in September 2005 in which the two opposition parties took control of parliament through a coalition.

President Yusuf elected 2005
The Federal Transitional Parliament met for the first time in Somalia in February 2006 in Baidoa. On 10 October 2005, the President of "Puntland," Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, was elected President of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) which had set up in Jowhar, north of Mogadishu in June 2005.

Somali National Reconciliation Conference organized by IGAD 2002 - 2004
Following two years of discussions in Kenya organized by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development or IGAD, the Federal Transitional Parliament FTP was formally inaugurated on 29 August 2004. Previously the selection of MPs was agreed with the Hawiye, Darod, Digil and Mirifle, the Dir asked to submit a list of 61 MPs and the Allied clan  asked to submit 31 MPs.

On 29 January 2004, Somali leaders signed a document which proposed amendments to the Transitional Federal Charter which had been adopted at the plenary of the Conference on 15 September 2003. The leaders decided that: the Charter’s name would be the Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Republic; the government would be the Transitional Federal Government; it would have a five year term; and the transitional federal parliament would have 275 members of whom 12 per cent would be women. It also called for a national census to be undertaken while the new constitution was being drafted and a national referendum.

The Somalia National Reconciliation Conference opened in Eldoret, Kenya in October 2002 with 600 Somali representatives who signed a declaration on cessation of hostilities. In February 2003 it moved to Mbagathi, where the number of delegates was cut from over 1000 to 366

The Arta Agreement - 2000
A Reconciliation Conference for more than 2,500 participants from all sections of  Somali society met from May to August in Arta, Djibouti. A National Parliament was formed, Dr. Abdikassim Salad Hassan was elected president and the new Transitional National Government was recognized internationally.  However a Kenyan effort in January 2002 to bring together TNG and opposition factions failed. The TNG moved to Mogadishu in August 2000 but its authority was challenged by Somali leaders in the south of the country and by northern regional administrations in "Puntland" and "Somaliland".

Earlier peace agreements
Earlier agreements included the Cairo Agreement (1997) the Sodere Agreement  (1996) where Somali faction leaders agreed on a National Salvation Council to oppose General Aided. This was preceded by the Addis Ababa Agreement  (1993) in which the leaders of 15 movements signed agreements on a ceasefire, a monitoring group and disarmament in UN chaired talks.  Later they agreed on a Transitional National Council but it ended in June 1993 when UNOSOM II troops were attacked. As early as July 1991 Djibouti hosted a national reconciliation conference for all Somali factions except former President Said Barre’s SNF which agreed on a ceasefire and a parliament with Ali Mahdi Mohammed as interim President, which was derailed by fighting.