(SomaliNet) In a bid to end the differences among Hawiye, the dominant clan in Somali capital Mogadishu, negotiations brokered by well-respected Somali traditional elders are under way, a Somali politician Abdulahi Sheik Hassan said yesterday. There are efforts to unify the varying ideologies within the Hawiye people. Mr. Hassan, who had recently backed out his opposition against the Somali government and attended the reconciliation congress. "I am hoping that Hawiye leaders will lastly agree on their common destiny and drop the hostility," said Hassan.
The clan's traditional leaders have been at odds over the participation of the reconciliation conference and split into two parts. Some argued that the conference should be political rather than clan-based and be held a neutral location outside of the country. One part led by the Hawiye leader dropped their negative position and joined the peace process while the other part stuck firmly on their stand.
Mr. Hassan said why the conference was halted for a week was to give chance to Hawiye clan to resolve their discrepancy and attend the clan-based reconciliation congress which has entered its second phase of political discussions last week.