Aide Memoire by Mr Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo to Consideration...

[Adan_1]

First, happy anniversary to all you Somalilnders out there. May our
country celebrate many more in peace in prosperity.


I am hereby posting an Aide Memoire filed by Somaliland on 2-14-1994,and
presented by Mr Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo to Consideration of the government
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


AIDE MEMOIRE
2-14-1994


First: a territory known colloquially as Somalia is not an international
entity as such; if the Security Council is referring to the Somali
Democratic Republic it should say so.


Second: For the purpose of this Aide Memoire the colloquilism Somalia is
regard the territory of the Somali Democratic Republic, less the
sovereign territory of the Republic of Somaliland which, on May 18 1991,
restored the sovereignty, granted to it by the United kingdom of June 29
1960.


Third: Somalia constitution has enshrined in it the sacred duty to unite
all Somali-occupied territories in the Horn of Africa. Its flag ,
consisting of of a five-pointed star on a blue background, is a
manifestation of this constitutional imperative - the formation of a "
Greater Somalia", consisting of Somalia iteslf, the Republic of
Somaliland, the Republic of Djibouti, the Kilil 5( Eastern Ethiopia.), and
the Northren Frontier Province of Kenya.


Fourth: the Republic of Somaliland, formally known as the state of
Somaliland on independence, voluntarily merged with the UN Trust
Territory of Somalia to form the Somalia Republic on 1 July 1960 and
subscribed to the Greater Somalia percept, though no Act of Union was in
fact signed because it was soon realize that the merger was an error of
judgement. An attempted military coup detat in 1961 to restore the
sovereignty of the State of Somaliland was suppressed by the military
authorities in Mogadisho.


Fifth: the Republic of Somaliland rejects the implied wording of the
preamble to Security Council Resolution 897 to the effect that the
boundary of the Republic of Somaliland, contiguous with boundary of
Somalia's North East region, is not inviolable.


Sixth: the international Community cannot have both ways: a condemnation,
on the one hand, of Somalia's desire for the unity of all Somali-occupied
territories, as inscribed in its constitution, and a rejection, on the
other hand, of the reversion by the Republic of Somaliland to the borders
existing at the time of its independence.


Seventh: by disregarding Somaliland's pursuit of the equally cogent
principle of self-determination, and by inviting attention of only to
Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, with its implied
application to the Republic of Somaliland, the Security Council has
created for the itself and for the Republic of Somaliland , a prejudicial
political situation in S/land's relation with Somalia. Sovereignty is
reposed in Transitional National Council in Mogadisho( in accordance with
27 March 1993 Addis Ababa Agreement) and this future Council may now seek
to exercise its suppose sovereignty over the Republic of Somaliland by
duress, encouraged by Security Council Resolution 897.


Eighth: moreover, the reference to the " Addis Ababa Agreements
' in the preamble to Res. 897 as constituting " the basis for the
resolution of the problems in Somalia", is parody of the realities of the
situations that exist between S/land and Somalia. Representatives of the
Republic of Somaliland were not party to agreements referred to and the
Govenrment of the Republic of Somaliland totally rejected the premise that
these Agreements constitute the basis for the resolution of the problems
in Somalia.


Ninth: in view of the hostile attitudes towards the Republic of Somaliland
adopted by some political leaders in Somalia( but not the public), a
threat to international peace and security is now a probability following
the prejudgement of the issue by Security Council Resolution 897.


Tenth: another consequence of the prejudicial preamble to Security Council
894, referred to above, is fear among UN and NGO"s that their current plan
for development in the Republic of Somaliland could be unilaterally
jeopardised by the future Transitional National Council of Somalia which,
usurping the sovereignty of Somaliland, could, in pursuance of a policy
of intimidation, deny these agencies the right to reside in Somaliland.


Eleventh: the compelling reasons for the the restoration of the
sovereignty of S/land have no parallel in other countries and are
therefore exceptional, creating no precedent.


Twelfth: the case for Eriterai's secession from Ethiopia, though
dissimilar to the case for S/land in that Eriteria was not a sovereign
state before it was involuntarily federated with Ethiopia, was based on
the right self-determination following an overwhelming desire by the
peoples of Eriteria for independence, as expressed during
internationally monitored referendum. The Republic of S/land expects no
less from the the international community, having an even stronger case
than that of Eriteria in that Somaliland voluntarily as merged as a
sovereign state with Somalia( no Act of Union was ratified)) and is
equally entitled to withdraw from this informal union.


Thirteenth: If it should be thought the Republic of S/land is taking
advantage of the continuing instability and insecurity of Somalia by
seeking international Recognition, the facts are otherwise: the
restoration of S/land's sovereignty was deeply desired in 1961, as
evidenced by a referendum on union with Somalia in that year. Final
victory over Barre's murderous and oppressive regime was achieved in 1991
followed by mounting chaos in Mogadisho. The restoration of S/land's
sovereignty was declared at national congress the same year, following
a massive public outcry for such promulgation. Since then, the Republic of
Somaliland, now with elected Government following a four-month
deliberation during the first half 1993 by representatives of every clan,
has continuously urged the international recognition. It is an old and
exceptional phenomenon based on the people's right to self-determination
and the right to have their former sovereignty restored by voluntarily
withdrawing from the the merger with Somalia. it is not a will-o-the-wisp
conjured out of the air in order to take advantage of Somalia's agonising
situation.


Fourteenth: the Republic of Somaliland has requested the United Nations
and bi-lateral aid donors to assist with funding and monitoring a country
wide referendum to satisfy an international desire to ascertain the wishes
of the people. The Security council is de facto authority in Somalia and
it is thus incumbent on the members of the Council. First to ascertain the
wishes of the people of S/land, according to the principle of
self-determination, and, secondly to promulgate and abide by the those
wishes.


Fifteenth: there is of course an urgency in seeking international
Recognition for one supremely important reason, among others, and that is
for three years the Republic of Somaliland has been deprived of assistance
from the World Bank and from the International Monetary Fund because of
the absence of this Recognition.


Sixteeneth: the government of the Republic of Somaliland, without
dependence on the United Nations, has re-established its police force,
judiciary, and prison system and is currently receiving, voluntarily and
without duress, all heavy armaments which have hitherto been in possession
of irresponsible young men. There is no reason why the international
Recognition of Somaliland should continue to be thwarted by the
international community.