MOGADISHU, March 29 (Xinhua) -- East Africa's bloc on Thursday appealed to warring parties in central Somalia to embrace inclusive power sharing arrangements to embrace peace after reaching the deal late last year.
The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said it has started implementation of the Peace Agreement signed between the leadership of Galmudug administration and moderate Islamic group, Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a (ASWJ) in December 2017.
"This long-awaited process aimed at uniting the two divided parties and enabling them to be governed under one umbrella," IGAD said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.
It said the process will continue until the end of parliament merging, harmonization of the constitution, formation of an inclusive cabinet and integration of forces.
The bloc said the parties on Thursday embarked on parliament merging where a preliminary agreement was reached between the two parties on the proportional distribution of MPs to the clans after a political dialogue.
The agreement entails merging of parliament, the harmonization of the constitution and the formation of an inclusive cabinet for Galmudug region as well as the integration of ASWJ forces.
The parties have promised to uphold peace in the interests of the people and the state during the signing.
The agreement comes after two and half years of divided state, divided leadership with differing ideologies, which resulted in conflict between Galmudug Administration and ASWJ.
"IGAD appeals for the goodwill of the two parties to exercise inclusive power sharing arrangements and remains committed to support the Federal Government of Somalia in its mandate to build peace, security and stability in Somalia," it said.
The power-sharing agreement was signed on December 6, 2017 by Galmudug State President Ahmed Duale Geelle and ASWJ leader Sheikh Shakir.
The regional bloc has played a mediation role in bringing together the rival sides in Galmudug, a federal member state in central Somalia established in 2014.
Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a, a moderate Islamist group is opposed to Al-Shabaab militant group but sympathetic to the central government.
