JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ

ISSUED BY THE IGAD MINISTERIAL FACILITATION COMMITTEE ON THE SOMALI PEACE PROCESS

Nairobi, Kenya.

Tuesday, 28^th October, 2003.

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1.      The meeting of the IGAD Ministerial Facilitation Committee on Somalia Peace Process was held pursuant to the decision of 10^th IGAD Summit held in Kampala on the 24^th and 25^th October, 2003. The Summit directed the Facilitation Committee to meet in Nairobi on the 28^th October, 2003, in order to review the status of the peace process and report to the Chairman of the Summit.

2.      The meeting was attended by Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, and Chairman of the IGAD Ministerial Facilitation Committee, Hon. Augustine Nshimye, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, representing the Chairman of the IGAD Council of Ministers, H.E. Ali Abdi Farah, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and In-charge of Parliamentary Relations, Republic of Djibouti, Hon. Ali Said Abdella, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea. Ethiopia was represented by H.E. Ambassador Kongit Sinegiorgis, Director General African Affairs, Ambassador of AU and the UNECA. The African Union was represented by Ambassador M.A. Foum, Special Envoy to the Somali Peace Process. Dr. Attalla Hamad Bashir, Executive Secretary of IGAD also attended the meeting.

3.      The following IGAD Development Partners also attended the meeting; Italy, United Kingdom, the United States of America, Sweden, Germany, Egypt, League of Arab States, the European Union and the United Nations.

4.      The meeting received progress reports on the Somali National Reconciliation Conference and noted that substantial progress has been achieved.

5.      The Ministers welcomed the summit’s decision to expand the IGAD Technical Committee, now renamed the Facilitation Committee, led by Kenya and to include Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda and hopefully the Sudan and the African Union. They noted that the establishment of the Facilitation Committee would give fresh impetus to the peace process. They urged the new Members to appoint their representatives as soon as possible.

6.      The Ministers called on the Somali Leaders to remain focused on the peace process and embrace dialogue with a view to achieving lasting peace in their country. They further urged the Somali parties to put the wider interests of the Somali people at the forefront.

7.      The Ministers agreed that all Somali leaders be invited to a Leaders Meeting on 20^th November, 2003 for ten days, at a venue in Kenya to be decided on by the Facilitation Committee. The meeting will be attended by H.E. Mwai Kibaki, President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda and Chairman of the Assembly IGAD Heads of State and Government, H.E. Joachim Chissano, Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union and H.E. Alpha Omar Konare, Chairman of the Commission of the African Union.

8.      The Ministers stressed the importance of ensuing that the resolution of the Somali conflict should result in the formation of institutions that would enjoy the support of the Somali majority, and ensure lasting peace.

9.      The Ministers noted the need to embark on preparations for post conflict Somalia. They called upon the African Union, Untied Nations and in particular, the United Nations Security Council to render support to the initiative. They reiterated the importance of Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Rehabilitation of Somalia as the main focus for all the stakeholders.

10.  The Ministers called upon IGAD Member States, the IGAD Partners Forum and the International Community to avail adequate and predictable funds to support the peace process. The meeting noted that the Somali Peace Process is a costly initiative that requires necessary political, diplomatic and financial support.

11.  The Ministers thanked members of the IGAD Partners Forum, in particular, the European Union for their relentless support to the peace process.

12.  The Ministers agreed that whilst inter-clan consultations continue, the Conference will enter Phase III after the successful conclusion of the Leaders Meeting.

13.  The Ministers agreed to hold their next meeting in Nairobi on 19^th November, 2003.

14.  The Ministers thanked the Government of the Republic of Kenya for hosting the Somali Peace Process and for convening the Ministerial Facilitation Committee Meeting.

Done at Nairobi, Kenya.

28^th October, 2003.