Speaker Offers Islamists in Somalia to Join Government

This is likely another dead end, and may be taken as a sign of division and weakness of the TFG by the Islamists. The PM has reportedly told the delegation to return to Baidoa immediately. It sounds like Aden may have been doing this on his own initiative. A noble effort by Aden indeed it was driven by a hope to avert war. But my guess is there are ulterior motives by Aden. Unfortunately, the air has been so polluted over the last 15 years that it is hard to trust any Somali politician.
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Speaker of the Somali Transitional Federal Parliament, Sharif Hasan Sheikh Aden, has invited the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC) to join the government, the Somali daily Banadir reports.

The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has accused Aden of breaking ranks and acting on his own. Aden had last week refused to lead a negotiation delegation on behalf of the TFG. The delegation went to Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, but the third round of talks between the two warring sides failed. Aden then led a delegation of his own to the capital Mogadishu, for the first time since fighting began in February.

Aden held talks with top SCIC officials, including leader Sheikh Hasan Dahir 'Awies. The latter told reporters that any peace talks held outside Somalia would never bring stability to the country. The SCIC has not yet given its decision, but it has agreed to continue talks.

Written by The Media Line Staff