Introduction

The collapse of the Government in Somalia in 1991 has resulted in civil war and one of the world's most severe humanitarian crisis.  Attempts at negotiated solutions have had little success and humanitarian workers, when able to, are operating in an extremely dangerous environment.  Ambassador Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General (UN SRSG) for Somalia brought together the Somalia Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), the main opposition group, for talks in Djibouti in June 2008. This has resulted in a ceasefire agreement and the establishment of a Unity Government.

The HD Centre, at the request of Ambassador Ould-Abdallah, is providing technical assistance on political co-operation to the mediation process.