The ongoing
talks for the allocation of the Transitional National Assembly
seats for Hawiye and Darod have not produced a final agreement.
With the negotiation still in progress, the list of the presidential
candidates for the top position of the interim government
is shaping up.
The most
number of candidates is from the Hawiye camp, although candidates
from the other clans are also discussed. Several delegates
and observers present at the conference have indicated 10-12
people as actively seeking the job of interim president.
The delegates
present at the conference have circulated candidate names
without a direct show of support or rejection. Now that the
actual debate is seen as approaching, delegates are presenting
their views on those candidates that have shown interest in
the position.
The fact
that the majority of the candidates running for the presidential
post are from the Hawiye clan was not well received by everyone.
Especially, those candidates from the Habar-Gedir-Hawiye sub-clan
are currently under scrutiny.
Some openly
expressed their opposition to Habar-Gedir presidential hopefuls.
Elders, delegates and representatives of the civil society
opposing these candidates indicated their willingness to move
forward in the re-pacification process, but questions the
motives of these candidates.
One of
the delegates from the south central Somalia stated that "electing
one of them is like rewarding those who caused and are still
causing us the most suffering.
This Conference
was convened to re-unite all Somalis. Therefore, we ought
to elected a president and prime minister that will uphold
to this commitment not candidates that aim to maintain the
status quo".
Djibouti's
government is gearing up all its apparatus to ensure that
the process goes smoothly. A dateline for the elections of
the interim government was not announced.
But, based
on the experience gained on the last three months everyone
is preparing for a lengthy process.
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