SOMALILAND
Letter from Sool Sanaag Hawd Development
Agency (SSHDA), 15 March 2004
PROTEST AND
CONCERN BY
RECENT PARLIAMENTARY
REPORT FROM
NORTHWEST SOMALIA
(SOMALILAND)
The recent report by honourable members of UK
Parliament visiting Hargeisa, was biased as well as embarrassing,
it sparked a crisis among the Somali Community in UK and added
more fuel to the ongoing fire in Somalia.
The report propagated a serious propaganda to
the effect that the breakaway "Somaliland" from the
rest of Somalia has the overwhelming support from its inhabitants
and constituent clans in the region, in that case deserving recognition,
which is not the fact. This report sending the wrong signal, will
only encourage secessionists to embark on a new wave of violence,
which they started now by sending their militia to the border
of Sool region (Las-Anod) by trying to wage war on territories
of other clans, which would lead to become the worst civil war
in Somalia.
Honourable members visited only one town (Hargeisa),
stayed only 24 hours and reported an emotional report based on
what they heard from their hosts. Which in effect gives false
hope to the secessionists, thereby prolonging our ongoing tragedy,
entailing misery and population exodus, particularly to Britain
where many Somali refugees come to escape from the strife torn
country.
Honourable Tony Worthington mentioned he did
not know anything about the dispute in Las-Anod, which indicates
that the honourable members reported one-side of the story. The
dispute is between Secessionists based in Hargeisa drawing support
from the Isak clan in Hargeisa and Berbera, and the anti-secessionists
(The Harti Clans of Dhulbahante and Warsengeli) from the regions
of Sool (Lasanod), Sanaag (Erigavo) and Am (Buhodle) all in Puntland
State of Somalia.
The population in those regions lead by their
Traditional Leaders rejected the clan based myth of Somaliland
and opted for a Somali nation by establishing the Puntland State
of Somalia. They did not allow their bogus referendum, Local Councils
or Presidential Elections to take place in their territories.
Also the Harti clan of (Dhulbahante) chased Mr Riyaale (North
West Somaliland President) when he tried to sneak to Lasanod on
7 December 2002.
The campaign by a single tribe to deceive and
manipulate the international community by persuading members of
UK Parliament and disseminating a story based on illusions of
a statehood which is lacking the consent of many regions and clans,
claiming that they were singled and persecuted by a dictator.
The truth is that all Somalis suffered the same fate.
Former British Somaliland Protectorate consisted
of Six Districts of which three are populated by non-Isak Clans.
Now there are six regions Sool (Lasanod), Am (Buhodle), Sanaag
(Erigavo) populated by the Harti Clans who totally reject secession.
In Awdal (Borama) the most western region is occupied by the Issa
and Gudabuursi, despite Mr Riyaale (president of North West Somaliland)
being from Awdal, the majority of both these tribes reject secession
from the Somali Republic.
The secessionist movement is based in Hargeisa
and Berbera (Northwest region) only. Even a major part of the
population in Burao (Togdheer) opt for a Somali Republic, as many
of their elders, politicians and intellectuals are now participating
in Nairobi's ongoing Somali Reconciliation Conference.
We ask that the British Government and Parliament
to visit or seek more information of the situation in that areas
which reject secession from the Somali Republic. We also would
like to know the policy and the view of the British Government
in regard to the above mentioned conflict. We hope that the report
by honourable members who visited Hargeisa would not fan the flames
of Somalia's civil war by giving encouragement to the secessionist
elements, by misusing humanitarian aid to procure arms in contrast
to the UN sanctions and waging war against other clans and territories.
The Somali Republic fragmented into non-viable
mini parts, is no one's interest neither for the Somali people
as whole nor for the international community including UK. It
would only suit warlords, terrorists and secessionists.
We look forward that the Government of UK, Parliament
and other UK institutions would help Somalis towards reconciliation
and support the ongoing Somali Reconciliation Conference in Nairobi,
peace building and nation building. We are concerned and we look
forward to your response.
A Suleiman
Secretary General
Sool Sanaag Hawd Development Agency (SSHDA)
15 March 2004
Annex 1
Press Release SC/8007, 25/02/04
Security Council
4915th Meeting (PM)
SECURITY COUNCIL REITERATES FIRM SUPPORT
FOR SOMALI RECONCILIATION
WELCOMES DECLARATION SIGNED IN NAIROBI AS
"IMPORTANT STEP" TOWARDS PEACE
The Security Council this afternoon, reiterating
its firm support for the reconciliation process in Somalia, welcomed
the recent signing of a declaration aimed at harmonising issues
as "an important step towards lasting peace", and called
on Somali parties to build on that progress and swiftly conclude
the National Reconciliation Conference by establishing a viable
transitional government.
In a statement read out by its President, Wang
Guangya (China), the Council urged all the signatories to that
agreement, who met in consultative meetings from 9 to 29 January
in Nairobi, Kenya, to fully abide by their commitment and move
the peace process forward. The Council also called on the Somali
parties to continue working towards a comprehensive security arrangement,
reiterating that the Eldoret Declaration of 27 October 2002 on
cessation of hostilities should be implemented expeditiously.
The Council condemned those who obstructed the
peace process, stressing that those who persisted on the path
of confrontation and conflict would be held accountable. It also
stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive ceasefire throughout
Somalia and called on the Somali parties to fully implement the
ceasefire, to ensure security and to resolve their differences
through peaceful means.
Welcoming the African Union's preparation to
deploy a military observer mission to Somalia, the Council called
upon the international community to support the African Union's
efforts to improve the security situation in Somalia. Reiterating
its concern over the continued flow of weapons and ammunition
supplies to Somalia, the Council welcomed the establishment of
the Monitoring Group pursuant to resolution 1519(2003) of 16 December
2003, and called on relevant States and entities to comply with
the arms embargo.
The Council requested the Secretary-General,
in his next report, to suggest ways to develop the United Nations
role in support of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development
(IGAD)-facilitated Somali reconciliation process.
The meeting was called to order at 1:10 p.m.
and adjourned at 1:17 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT
The full text of the presidential statement,
to be issued as S/PRST/2004/3 reads as follows:
"The Security Council, recalling its previous
decisions concerning the situation in Somalia, in particular the
statement of its President of 11 November 2003 (S/PRST/2003/19)
and welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of February
2004 (S/2004/115), reaffirms its commitment to a comprehensive
and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia, and its respect
for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence
and unity of the country, consistent with the purposes and principles
of the Charter of the United Nations.
"The Security Council reiterates its
firm support for the Somali national reconciliation process and
the ongoing Somali National Reconciliation Conference in Kenya,
launched under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority
on Development (IGAD).
"The Security Council commends President
Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, other
leaders of IGAD, and international supporters of the Somali National
Reconciliation Conference for their perseverance to help Somalis
reach national reconciliation.
"The Security Council welcomes the
signing, on 29 January 2004, of the Declaration on the Harmonisation
of the Various Issues by the Somali Delegates at the Somali Consultative
Meetings, held from 9 to 29 January 2004 in Nairobi, as an important
step towards lasting peace and reconciliation in Somalia, and
urges all signatories to the agreement to fully abide by their
commitment to take forward the peace process.
"The Security Council calls upon the
Somali parties to build on the progress achieved and swiftly conclude
the Somali National Reconciliation Conference with a durable and
inclusive solution to the conflict in Somalia by establishing
a viable transitional government.
"The Security Council reiterates that
the Somali parties should abide by and implement expeditiously
the Eldoret Declaration of 27 October 2002 on cessation of hostilities,
and calls on the Somali parties to continue working towards a
comprehensive security arrangement for Somalia.
"The Security Council stresses the
urgent need for a comprehensive ceasefire throughout Somalia,
and that the Somali parties themselves bear the responsibility
of achieving it. The Council calls on the Somali parties to fully
implement the ceasefire, to ensure security, and to resolve their
differences through peaceful means.
"The Security Council condemns those
who obstruct the peace process, and stresses that those who persist
on the path of confrontation and conflict will be held accountable.
The Council will continue to monitor the situation closely
"The Security Council calls upon all
neighbouring States to continue their endeavour to participate
fully and constructively for the success of the Somali National
Reconciliation Process and the attainment of peace in region.
"The Security Council welcomes the
commitment and preparation of the African Union to deploy a military
observer mission to Somalia, and calls upon the international
community to support the African Union's efforts to improve the
security situation in Somalia.
"The Security Council calls on the
international community to continue its efforts to support IGAD
in its facilitation of the Somali National Reconciliation Conference,
and calls on the donor countries to contribute to the Conference,
the United Nations Trust Fund for Peace-building in Somalia and
the United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Somalia.
"The Security Council expresses serious
concern regarding the humanitarian situation in Somalia, and calls
on the Somalia leaders to facilitate the delivery of much-needed
humanitarian assistance and to assure the safety of all international
and national aid workers.
"The Security Council reiterates its
concern over the continued flow of weapons and ammunition supplies
to Somalia, welcomes the establishment of the Monitoring Group
pursuant to resolution 1519 (2003) of 16 December 2003, and calls
on relevant States and entities to comply scrupulously with the
arms embargo and to cooperate with the Monitoring Group.
"The Security Council welcomes the
readiness of the Secretary-General to enhance the attention of
the United Nations to developments in Somalia within existing
resources. The Council reiterates that a comprehensive peace-building
program with special emphasis on disarmament, demobilisation,
rehabilitation and reintegration will be important to post-conflict
Somalia as stipulated in the statement of its President of 28
March 2002 (S/PRST/2002/8).
"The Security Council requests the
Secretary-General to consider and to suggest in his next report
ways to develop the role of the United Nations in support of the
IGAD facilitated Somali reconciliation process.
"The Security Council reiterates its
readiness to assist the Somali parties and support IGAD in implementation
of the agreements reached in the Somalia National Reconciliation
Conference."
BACKGROUND
When the Security Council met it had before
it the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia
(S/2004/115 and Corr. 1), covering the period from 13 October
2003, and focusing on the progress made by the Somali national
reconciliation process under the auspices of IGAD.
The conflict in Somalia dates to 1989, when
growing discontent with President Siad Barre's regime resulted
in a general civil war. The regime collapsed in 1991, and the
country descended into inter-clan warfare. The crisis in Somalia
impelled the Security Council to impose an arms embargo on the
country and eventually authorise a United Nations peace enforcement
operation from 1993 to 1995. United Nations peacekeeping forces
were then drawn into a difficult and protracted conflict with
the Somali National Alliance (SNA), which sapped the will of the
international community for the enforcement operation. When the
last United Nations forces withdrew in March 1995, Somalia remained
divided, without a central government.
In 2002, the IGAD, a regional organisation of
States in the Horn of Africa, proposed to hold a peace and reconciliation
conference. That conference signed a Declaration on Cessation
of Hostilities and the Structures and Principles of the Somalia
Reconciliation Process, in Eldoret, Kenya, on 27 October that
year. Since then, a Somalia National Reconciliation Conference
has been meeting in Mbagathi, Kenya, under auspices of the IGAD.
On 16 December 2003, the Council adopted resolution
1519 (2003) to give full effect to the implementation of the arms
embargo [see Press Release SC/7957]. The Secretary-General states
in his report that, according to the Council's request, he has
established a Monitoring Group to investigate violations of the
arms embargo covering access to Somalia by land, air and sea and
to provide a draft list of those who continue to violate the embargo
for possible measures by the Council.
According to the report, on 29 January, Somali
leaders signed a "Declaration on the Harmonisation of Various
Issues Proposed by the Somali Delegates at the Somali Consultative
Meetings from 9 to 29 January", consisting of proposed amendments
to the transitional federal charter adopted at the plenary meeting
of the Conference on 15 September 2003. Among other things, the
document called for a national census to be undertaken while a
new constitution was being drafted, as well as for its approval
by an internationally supervised national referendum. A controversy
arose, however, over the method of selection of the members of
the transitional federal parliament, which is to consist of 275
members, 12% of whom would be women.
The Secretary-General observes that that agreement
marked a breakthrough that promises to allow further progress
in the Somalia National Reconciliation Conference. He points out,
however, how important it is that progress in the political arena
be accompanied by serious efforts on the leaders' part to realise
tangible improvement in the security situation, which would be
conducive to the implementation of a political agreement. That
would, in turn, accord the necessary credibility to the political
agreement, which would be critical if it were to receive the full
support of the people of Somalia and the international community.
The Secretary-General further observes that
insecurity and violence in many parts of the country make a comprehensive
peace urgent. Somali leaders and their militias should also be
aware that they will be held accountable for continued violations
of human rights. It would be necessary for the front-line IGAD
States to narrow differences among themselves with regard to the
Somali national reconciliation process, and to speak with one
voice.
Regarding the humanitarian situation in Somalia—affected
by four years of drought in northern Somalia, issues of safe access
to contested areas, inter-clan fighting and ongoing violence and
criminality—the Secretary-General notes that, as at 1 February,
less than 1% of the $113 million requested in the 2004 Consolidated
Inter-Agency Appeal for Somalia has been received. Of the $78
million requested in the 2003 appeal, 61% was funded. Many essential
services are not provided to the population because of lack of
funds and the precarious security situation.
As the United Nations and non-governmental organisations
have made greater efforts to improve the consolidated inter-agency
appeal by making it more participatory and strengthening analysis
and planning, the Secretary-General encourages donors to contribute
generously to the consolidated appeal, in order to ensure the
fullest possible implementation of the Common Humanitarian Action
Plan for Somalia.
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