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Somali officials and analysts welcomed the Galkayo agreement as an encouraging sign that Somalia will be able to meet the August deadline to peacefully move government institutions out of the UN-mandated transitional phase.

Somali leaders signed an agreement on Monday (March 26th) in Galkayo to implement key steps within the Roadmap to end the transitional period according to timeframes outlined in past meetings. A document comprising nine clauses expanded on the previous Garowe agreements and further outlined steps to unify Somalia's regional governments.

The Roadmap, signed September 6th, 2011, is an agreement between the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and autonomous administrations outlining plans for the end of the TFG mandate, and dealing with security, reconciliation, the constitution and parliamentary reforms.

"Very important agreements were reached at the meeting, and it is important to note that leaders were able to achieve consensus in a short amount of time, six hours, without chaotic disruptions," said Hussein Abukar, a lecturer at the Puntland University of Science and Technology.

The one-day meeting was attended by delegates from the TFG, the regional governments of Puntland and Galmudug, and the government-allied militia Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa (ASWJ), as well as international stakeholders including representatives from the United Nations Political Office for Somalia.

The signing ceremony was attended by Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Speaker of Parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aadan, Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud Faroole, Galmudug Vice President Abdisamad Nur Guled, ASWJ representative Mohamed Mohamud Yusuf "Libah", and UN Special Representative for Somalia Augustine Mahiga,

Faroole told Sabahi he welcomed the agreement. "The Somali people need and are waiting for those in charge to complete the task and put an end to the transitional government, to institute new chambers of parliament and to establish the institutions that will ratify a new constitution," he said.

The agreement

Leaders agreed to expedite the selection of the members of the National Constituent Assembly that will be ratifying the constitution, a key step in the Roadmap agreed upon last September. The Garowe II agreement will be amended to reduce the number of assembly delegates and facilitate the application of a "4.5 clan-quota", which ensures equal shares for the four largest clans in Somalia.

Under the new agreement, delegates to the National Constituent Assembly will be reduced from 1,000 to 825.

Assembly delegates will be selected by 135 clan elders with the assistance of civil society groups representing a cross-section of the population, including women, youths, religious and traditional leaders, and the business sector.

The 135 elders will be selected using the 4.5 formula, with the four largest clans represented by 30 elders each, and 15 elders representing the remaining clans.

In addition to the National Constituent Assembly, the clan elders will select members of parliament, aided by a 17-member Electoral Commission. The commission will comprise six representatives from the federal government, three from Puntland, Galmudug, and ASWJ each, and two from the United Nations Political Office for Somalia. In addition, six stakeholders representing the international community will be selected to monitor the process.

The clan elders will convene on April 25th in Mogadishu to select members of the National Constituent Assembly.

Leaders called on the international community to expedite its financial support in order to facilitate the TFG's implementation of programmes until the end of its mandate.

Reaching consensus

Reducing the number of delegates to the assembly was among the most contentious issues discussed, according to those who attended the meeting.

"The only complaint particularly held was the small reduction of delegates from 1,000 to 825 to implement the 4.5 quota," Faroole told Sabahi following the meeting.

Yusuf, the ASWJ representative, said ensuring that the 4.5 quota is applied is critical. It is the only effective method leaders found to peacefully resolve long-standing conflicts in Somalia, he said.

"It is the only way to reach a resolution," he told Sabahi, adding that the formula will be used in selecting the next parliament. However, some analysts cautioned against the use of a clan-based power sharing system.

"As long as Somalis rely on clan identity and the 4.5 model to divide [opportunities and power], nothing will change," Abdirahman Mohamud, a political analyst based in Puntland, told Sabahi. "I would urge [Somalis] to leave the clan-based model to adopt one based on national unity rather than tribalism."