After the first post-dictatorship democratic elections in 1999, 12 of the northern Muslim states adopted sharia law, putting an enormous strain on the unity of a Nigerian state that had previously been run only under the secular, civil law bequeathed to it by British colonial rulers.

ECONOMIST: Nigeria

Officials said those attending Friday's meeting hope to reach an agreement on the formation of a new national unity government and electoral law, which should lead to parliament's election of a president.

CNN: Hezbollah lifts Beirut street blockades

We will engage as partners as the Libyan people work to build open and transparent institutions, establish security and the rule of law, advance opportunity, and promote unity and national reconciliation.

WHITEHOUSE: Statement by the President on Libya

But the steel strength of the national unity government would help us face all those who are breaking the law, or those who are trying to take down democracy in Iraq, or those who are conspiring and trying to have coups or basically bring down the national unity government.

NPR: Maliki Assures Bush on Iraqi Force's Readiness

As part of such an accommodation, the Islamists would probably have to agree not to impose sharia law on Somalia, at any rate under a transitional government of national unity.

ECONOMIST: Somalia

Our embassy and our mission organizations have been restructured so that we can achieve better unity of effort among our very diverse group of civilian diplomats, development specialists, agricultural experts, and law enforcement agents on the ground.

WHITEHOUSE: 5/10/10: White House Press Briefing