Mogadishu (Sunatimes) UN special envoy for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga speaking to Bar-kulan/RBKUN special envoy for Somalia Augustine Mahiga has said the ongoing three day consultative meeting in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, is already bearing fruits as leaders agree on thorny issues during the first two days of the talks.

In an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan, Mahiga said the leaders attending the U.N backed talks have shown tolerance and cordial working relationships among themselves in making positive break through on several contentious issues.

He expressed his optimism that delegates will at the end of the talks reach remarkable resolutions as they have openly discussed on sensitive issues that could have otherwise derail the process.

The UN envoy also noted the recent peaceful settlement of differences between Galmudug and Puntland administrations, saying that both the regional presidents have shown commitments in settling their differences in a peaceful manner and adopted a four point plan to ensure that hostilities do not re-occur.

Mahiga stated that civil societies and traditional elders were part of the process of the consultative meeting, revealing that there will be already scheduled talks for the civil societies early on next October.

The envoy however said he was quite optimistic that in the next twelve month, Somalia will wind up the transitional period.

By Salma Mohamud