CAIRO — At an official invitation, the Somali opposition leader is in Egypt for talks with officials as part of perceived Egyptian effort to mediate a solution to the conflict in the horn of Africa country. "Cairo has invited the Alliance for the Liberation of Somalia for consultations with Egyptian officials, the Arab League and Western diplomats on Somalia developments," Taher Geli, a leader of the Alliance, told IslamOnline.
The seven-member delegation is led by the Alliance leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad.
It also features leading figures including the head of the Alliance Shura Council, former parliament speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, and deputy leader Gamai Mohamed Ghaleb.
Formed last September as an umbrella for resisting Ethiopian forces, the Alliance comprises politicians from a wide spectrum, including liberals and nationalists.
Three Ethiopian soldiers were killed on Tuesday, February 13, in an attack on an Ethiopian base in the city of Afgooye, 30 kilometers from Mogadishu.
Somalia has been ravaged by violence since Ethiopian and interim government troops ousted the Islamic Courts, which restored rare law and order for six months after routing a US-backed alliance of warlords in 2006.
The capital Mogadishu has plunged into a deadly vicious cycle of violence which has killed hundreds and displaced more than 400,000.
Mediation
The visit is seen as part of Egyptian mediation efforts.
"Egypt wants to fashion a formula to bridge gaps between the opposition and government," Abdullah Balak, editor-in-chief of Al-Ayam newspaper, told IOL.
"Cairo will listen to the alliance's view."
He notes that Egypt has always played a leading role in Somalia, recalling that it helped the African country win independence from Briton.
"This gives a special importance to the visit and serves the Alliance."
The veteran reporter said that Egypt and the European Union share similar views on the Somali issue.
"Therefore, a meeting between the Alliance's delegation and European diplomats in Cairo would give momentum to reconciliation efforts."
Observers believe that the delegation's visit signals that the Alliance is widening its diplomatic relations with heavyweight Arab countries.
European diplomatic sources had earlier told IOL that several Arab countries changed hearts after an initial support for Ethiopian presence and were diplomatically and financially supporting Somali resistance.
The visit coincides with reconciliatory statements from the rival Somali parties.
Sheikh Sharif, the opposition leader and a central figure of the ousted Islamic Courts, has signaled readiness for talks with the interim government.
Somali Premier Nur Hassan Hussein also said hat his government was ready to start talks with opponents.
"From now on we are planning to elaborate a strategy of conciliation that will be all-inclusive," he told Reuters Tuesday during a trip to Brussels.
"Everyone now is asking when, when the real discussion, when the real agreement will take place. ... so it will not be very far away now."