Somali unity-deal signed in Djibouti - PressTV
Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:23:17 GMT
The parties agreed to extend the Transitional Government's term to 3 years
Somalia's government has signed a power-sharing deal with an opposition group, the Alliance for Re-liberation of Somalia, in Djibouti.
The agreement signed on Wednesday will see the formation of a unity government and the expansion of the Somali parliament from the current 275 members to 550.
According to the deal 200 of the new seats will be filled by the Somali opposition and the other 75 will be taken by members of Somalia's civil society.
The parties also agreed to extend the Transitional Federal Government's term -- which expires early next year -- to three years.
Only than the Somali parliament will elect fresh the president, the Prime Minister and the national speaker for parliament.
The man behind the signed deal, UN special Representative to Somalia, Ahmed Ould-Abdallah is optimistic that the Somali leaders will work together to end the conflict.
"We hope that the concerted efforts made here and the momentum gained in these last few days continue so that the new year sees Somali leaders working together, wholeheartedly and committed to the dignity of Somali people," Ould-Abdallah said in a statement.
However analysts believe that the Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed may not agree to this new arrangement since it will signify his early exit from office.
If this agreement is implemented, the Somali parliament will be the largest parliament in the world.
The parties agreed to extend the Transitional Government's term to 3 years
Somalia's government has signed a power-sharing deal with an opposition group, the Alliance for Re-liberation of Somalia, in Djibouti.
The agreement signed on Wednesday will see the formation of a unity government and the expansion of the Somali parliament from the current 275 members to 550.
According to the deal 200 of the new seats will be filled by the Somali opposition and the other 75 will be taken by members of Somalia's civil society.
The parties also agreed to extend the Transitional Federal Government's term -- which expires early next year -- to three years.
Only than the Somali parliament will elect fresh the president, the Prime Minister and the national speaker for parliament.
The man behind the signed deal, UN special Representative to Somalia, Ahmed Ould-Abdallah is optimistic that the Somali leaders will work together to end the conflict.
"We hope that the concerted efforts made here and the momentum gained in these last few days continue so that the new year sees Somali leaders working together, wholeheartedly and committed to the dignity of Somali people," Ould-Abdallah said in a statement.
However analysts believe that the Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed may not agree to this new arrangement since it will signify his early exit from office.
If this agreement is implemented, the Somali parliament will be the largest parliament in the world.