UN Envoy for Somalia Arrives in Kenya

Djibouti (HAN) May 29, 2005 -The new Special Representative of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, François Lonseny Fall, was scheduled to arrive today in Nairobi, Kenya, to head the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), which is mandated to spearhead reconciliation talks in the post-conflict Horn of Africa country.

Mr. Fall will start on a round of talks with Somalia's Nairobi-based Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and other leaders involved in the Somali peace process.


The UN was asked by the TFG, regional Governments and donor countries to take the lead in implementing agreements reached at the Somali National Reconciliation Conference, including respecting a formula for clan participation in the Government and transparency in choosing political candidates.

The Conference was held under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) - Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.


It ended in October 2004 with Col. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed being sworn in as the President of Somalia after having been elected by the members of the Transitional Federal Parliament in October. With the TFG as the first central government since 1991, when President Siad Barre was toppled, Somalia has endured the longest period of state collapse in recent history.

Mr. Annan's last quarterly report in February to the Security Council expressed misgivings over the security situation in Somalia.

To advertise in The GEESKA AFRIKA ONLINE AND HAN, contact:

The HAN Ad Desk office

Email: han@geeskaafrika.com