242: first steps out of conflict for Somalia

Somalia has been in a state of almost constant civil war during the last 17 years, creating more than one million refugees and leaving many dead. However, today saw the tiniest sliver of hope emerge from the conflict zone. As today's linked article from the BBC reports, UN-brokered talks between the Somali government and one of the key rebel groups, the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia, have concluded in a signed peace deal. The talks were the first between the two groups who - according to the article - were in the same hotel for eight days avoiding each other before they actually met. The result is an agreement to end armed conflict within 30 days. Ethiopian troops are expected to leave Somalia within 90 days. The agreement is, of course, very fragile. Whether it can be implemented remains to be seen. But, after so long without dialogue, getting anything down on paper is a significant step forward. (Photo from BBC online.)