Officials
of the autonomous region of Puntland (northeast Somalia) and
the self-declared state of Somaliland (northwest Somalia)
have held mediation talks in a bid to reduce tensions between
their leaders, which have resulted in recent outbreaks of
fighting.
A report
in the Puntland newspaper, 'Sahan', monitored by the BBC,
said the mediation would depend on the outcome of the Djibouti
peace conference. Both administrations have boycotted the
Djibouti-hosted Somali National Reconciliation Conference,
and forbidden people from their respective areas to attend.
"The tension
between the two regions will end if the Djibouti reconciliation
conference sets up a national government supported by the
international community," it said.
Citing
visa requirements the two regions have imposed on each other,
it added, "the failure of the Djibouti conference will further
strain relations between the two Somali regions and lead to
stricter travelling regulations". Last week women from Galkaio
and Mudug region, central Somalia, held meetings and demonstrations
calling for peace.
They called
on warring clans to halt clashes in the region, and said women
should influence their sons and husbands to lay down their
arms and support peace, the pro-Puntland regional government
radio station said in a broadcast monitored by BBC.
The private
paper 'Sahan' has continued to write articles in support of
the Djibouti-hosted talks despite a hostile response from
the administration. Analysts recalled that the editor-in-chief,
Mohamed Abdulkadir Ahmed, was arrested and beaten on 11 July
by administration officials.
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