Report on peace-making initiative in Somaliland April 1995..

[Adan_1]

Report on peace-making initiative in SomalilandApril 1995-January 1997

national conference organized by the Somali National Movement (SNM) in Burao,Somaliland, Somalilanders took the momentous decision, on 18 May 1991, to withdraw fromthe union with Somalia and to reinstate the Republic of Somaliland that pre-existed theunion with Somalia. Since that time there has been relative peace in the country except twosetbacks in Burao and Berbera that were quickly brought under control.That was the situation until 15 November 1994 and 28 March 1995 when violent armedconflicts erupted in Hargeisa and Burao respectively. Many people were either killed orwounded in the conflicts and significant property destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of thepopulations of Burao and Hargeisa districts were either internally displaced or driven to seekrefuge mainly in Ethiopia but also in some other countries.The conflict was mainly between the Government and the Garhajis fighting faction (i.e. fromthe Idagale & Habar Yonis subclans). The outbreak of the civil conflict was not reallycomplete surprise because trouble had been brewing in both Hargeisa and Burao since theBorama National Congress in 1993 when the 2-year SNM regime and the presidency of Mr.Abdirahman (Tuur) Ahmed Ali came to an end and Mr Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal waselected as the new President of the Republic of Somaliland.The cause of the conflict was assumed mainly to do with dispute about political powersharing, but no doubt it was also complicated by clan-based petty politics. Anyway it is notfor the Peace Committee to give specific cause(s) of the conflict nor to apportion blame toany one particular side.It was against this background that the peace-making initiative which forms the subjectmatter of this report was launched.

Preparatory phase: April-August 1991. Some Somalilander individuals abroad were very much distressed by the sad events inSomaliland. These Somalilanders held meetings in the countries they lived in (e.g. Denmark,Sweden, Norway, Ethiopia, Djibouti, the Netherlands, etc.) and discussed how best they couldhelp in bringing the civil conflict to an end.

These activities culminated in an enlargedconference in London, UK, 29-30 April 1995. About 80 Somalilander delegates from Canada,Denmark, Finland, France, Holland, Sweden, United State of America and the United Kingdomparticipated in the conference.One of the main objectives of the conference was to define a practical role that like-mindedSomalilanders abroad could play in restoring peace and stability in Somaliland.
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[Adan_1]

To: Peace Committee for Somaliland
To: Garhajis Council
To: Others it may concern
3/2/96
Subject: peace announcement

AFTER listening to the Peace Committee for Somaliland,TAKING into consideration all the decisions and principles governing the Garhajisclan,TAKING into consideration the importance of the item dealing with peace and thesituation we are in as a country as well as people,

I declare and assure anybody interested that, in principle,the Garhajis clan is ready to have dialogue about peace withother clans and any one else except the Egal Administration.It is not the first time that I made a similar call.I, The Sultan, advise the Peace Committee for Somaliland to meet the Garhajis clanCouncil after one month - i.e. on 4/3/96.

(Signed)Sultan Mohamed Sultan Abdulkadir

[XidigtaJSL]

Important history. This is why I love Duriyada Reer Sheikh Isaxaaq, we fight like men and then sit down to make peace, many inside and outside of the country are always ready to pitch in and make it heppen to save precious human lives. Camels, girls and money follows and the deal is sealed.

We move on to build "Africa's best kept secret"

Waxaasaa tol ah