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After three days of talks last week in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, Somali leaders put the final touches on the draft constitution and agreed to several provisions for ending Somalia's transitional government.

The meetings were held to address unresolved issues and finalise agreements previously reached at the meeting held in Addis Ababa in May regarding implementing the Roadmap to end the transitional period by August 20th.

Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali said the approval of the constitution was the "most critical task to end the transition", and he urged leaders to continue to take swift action to that end.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have 58 days to make history. Let us not waste a single minute," he said in his closing statement in Nairobi on Friday (June 22nd).

The meeting was facilitated by UN Special Representative to the Secretary-General for Somalia Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, who also hailed the leaders' agreement as a "critical" step for Somalia's transition to federal rule.

"This stage in Nairobi is probably the most critical because it ushers in the accomplishment of one of the major steps to end the transition," he said.

"I am most gratified that the signatories have come together in the spirit of co-operation and compromise and have collectively committed to move the process forward," Mahiga said. "The transitional period will end in less than 60 days and we have no time to lose."

The prime minister, Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Speaker of Parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aadan, Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamud Farole, Galmudug President Ahmed Mohamed Alin and Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa representative Khalif Abdiqadir Maalim Nur attended the meeting in Nairobi.

New deadline for National Constituent Assembly

A committee under the leadership of Minister of Constitutional Affairs and Reconciliation Abdurahman Hosh Jibril will present the draft constitution to the National Constituent Assembly on July 12th. This pushes forward the July 2nd deadline set by Somali leaders in Addis Ababa.

The National Constituent Assembly will have until July 20th to deliberate and vote on the constitution, after which it will be put before the Somali people for approval through a direct referendum.

The signatories confirmed that the new Somali parliament would comprise 225 members, even though some tribal leaders wanted it to have 275 members.

The Somali leaders renewed their pledge to form several committees on ending the transitional period, including a jury of tribal leaders and a technical committee to assist tribal leaders in resolving disputes, and a co-ordinating bureau that will monitor communications between participants in the transitional period.

'New era' for Somalia

Somali political analysts expressed confidence in the Somali leaders' ability to follow through with their commitments to end the transitional government by August 20th and overcome any procedural hurdles or conflicts of interest that may occur in the remaining period.

Abdirashid Abdullahi, a political analyst and university professor, said the Nairobi agreement is a sign of the leaders' loyalty to the pledge they took to end the transitional period.

"Somalia is now at a decisive stage in its history and political leaders should stay true to the pledge they have taken to end the transitional period because this accomplishment represents the ambitions of the Somali people," he told Sabahi.

Abdullahi said the Somali people are hopeful that a new era of hope and stability will arrive in August.

"The political leaders should not squander this opportunity," he said. "Also, the tribal leaders who are meeting in Mogadishu should not delay the process of selecting members of the National Constituent Assembly, which is tasked with ratifying the new constitution, followed by choosing the new members of parliament, which would pave the way for ending the transitional period on time."

Political analyst Farah Mohamed Yusuf said finalising the new draft constitution is considered the most important task to end the transitional period.

"Reconfirmation by [Somali] leaders…that they are committed to completing this process and their collective determination to end the transitional period is a crucial step that could usher in a new era for the future of Somalia," he told Sabahi.

"After decades of war, destruction and chaos, Somalia is now heading towards peace and national reconciliation and putting an end to the transitional period," Yusuf said.