U N I T E D   N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Central and Eastern Africa

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Fax: +254 2 622129
e-mail: irin@ocha.unon.org


HORN OF AFRICA
IRIN-HOA Weekly Round-Up 390
14 - 20 July 2007


CONTENTS:

SOMALIA: Conference organisers optimistic, despite adjournment
SOMALIA: Possible closure of Mogadishu market threatens livelihoods
SOMALIA: Livelihoods in jeopardy after poor rainfall
SUDAN: UN calls on key rebel leader to embrace peace efforts


SOMALIA: Conference organisers optimistic, despite adjournment

The much-touted national reconciliation conference opened as scheduled 
on 15 July in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, but was adjourned a few 
hours later, in a move that civil society hailed as positive as it gave 
the government time to make sure most would-be delegates attended.

"The conference was officially opened by the President [Abdullahi Yusuf] 
at 2pm local time," Abdulkadir Walayo, the media adviser to the National 
Governance and Reconciliation Commission, which is organising the 
conference, told IRIN.

He said the conference was adjourned until 19 July to allow for late 
delegates. There had also been some technical hitches. "We had problems 
with badges and accommodation, which will be sorted out by Thursday."

Full report
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73255


SOMALIA: Possible closure of Mogadishu market threatens livelihoods

The largest open-air market in Somalia, Bakara, in the capital 
Mogadishu, could close due to insecurity and continued restrictions on 
the movement of people by government security forces, warn local 
sources.

"All the signs point to a total closure of Bakara market," Ali Muhammad 
Siad, the chairman of the market's traders, told IRIN on 18 July.

A local businessman warned that such a closure would affect thousands of 
people's livelihoods.

Full report
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73287


SOMALIA: Livelihoods in jeopardy after poor rainfall

Severe water and food shortages in Somalia's northeastern self-declared 
autonomous region of Puntland are forcing families to leave their homes 
to look for resources elsewhere.

Most of Puntland's population relies on livestock and fishing, but poor 
rainfall has left people struggling to make ends meet.

The Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, Ali Abdi 
Aware, said the problem was most acute in the eastern region of Bari and 
parts of the disputed region of Sanaag (both Puntland and Somaliland 
claim the area).

Full report
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73311


SUDAN: UN calls on key rebel leader to embrace peace efforts

The United Nations has urged a prominent Darfur rebel leader to join 
efforts to end the devastation in Sudan's western region, even though 
Abdel Wahid Nour, leader of a faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement, 
has declared he would not participate in peace talks next month.

The talks, to be held under the auspices of the UN and the African Union 
in Arusha, Tanzania, hope to lay the foundation for negotiations with 
the Sudanese government, to end more than four years of conflict in 
Darfur.

Full report
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73333


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