- Title: [SW Country](SOMALILAND FORUM) MADE IN DJIBOUTI - AN EXILE GOVERNMENT
FOR SOMALIA?
- Posted by/on:[AAJ][26 Aug 2000]
Opinions expressed in this column
are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of SW.
PRESS RELEASE,
MADE IN
DJIBOUTI - AN EXILE GOVERNMENT FOR SOMALIA?
Friday
August 25th, 2000 Ref. SF/EC-018-2000
During the next few
weeks, the world will hear that
the Republic of Djibouti has manufactured a government in exile for Somalia.
The propaganda for this has already started and there is talk that this will solve the
"problem of Somalia". But which Somalia is this aimed at? Obviously not for the
Republic of Somaliland, nor for the people of Somaliland!
The so-called Somali
Democratic Republic, which was based on the union of two free states, the former British
Somaliland and the former Italian Somalia disintegrated in 1991 after a lengthy civil war. Like other unions of states which have not worked,
the state of the Republic of Somaliland has reclaimed its sovereignty in 1991 and, without
any international support, re-built a peaceful and functioning democracy. "But
Somaliland is not the first African country which reclaimed its sovereignty from an
unworkable union, as countries such as Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissua have done it
before," said Amina-Malko Jama, the chair of the Somaliland Forum. However,
"this African success story of Somaliland has not been acknowledged", she
continued to say, "whilst billions of dollars have been spent on reinventing a new
government for 'Somalia' - a state that no longer exists."
Somaliland has lived
with the benign neglect of the UN and the international community, since 1991. But the Republic of Djibouti, the former French
Somaliland, which on its independence from France in 1977, chose to remain as a sovereign
state rather than joining the failing union of Somali states, is soon to announce that it
has manufactured a new exile government for the two Somali states. Djibouti will be asking
the international community to help legitimise this government in exile by repatriating it
to a seat (Baidoa), that is nearly two hundred miles away from the former Somalia Capital
of Mogadishu. And this only proves to show that the writ of this government will not even
extend beyond this site, let alone the rest of Somalia (ex-Italian Somalia).
The Djibouti
initiative has been sold to the world as being different from the other failed twelve
preceding Somalia peace initiatives, in that it involves the Somali civil society.
Djibouti is deliberately forgetting that the civil society in Somaliland has already
spoken and exercised its absolute rights as guaranteed to us by the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as proclaimed in the Charter of the UN.
Somaliland will soon
hold a national referendum for the public to approve the Constitution. Political parties
are being formed and popular elections of local councils, parliament and the president
will be held within the next two years. In contrast, the so-called transitional assembly
for Somalia formed in Djibouti has been nominated by individuals selectively invited to
Djibouti, including many former high-ranking officials and officers of the ruthless
dictator, Siad Barre, like the notorious war criminals, Generals
Gani and Morgan and many other despicable characters.
As is the
practice of many countries, states and not governments are extended recognition, for that
reason, we do not expect any declarations in respect of this Djibouti exile government.
Therefore:
We
impress on the international community that the Pre-1991 state of the Somali Democratic
Republic no longer exists and cannot be re-formed because the union of its composite
states has been dissolved.
We urge
all countries to refrain from doing anything that can be construed as supporting the claim
of the Djibouti manufactured government to assume the role of the defunct state.
We warn
against every one in the international community not to fall for any fake imitations of
the defunct Somali union, as the Republic of Somaliland regained its sovereignty and
fulfils all the criteria of statehood as set out in article 1 of the 1933 Montevideo
Convention on the Rights and Duties of States. Somaliland
has a permanent population; a defined territory (the former British Somaliland) with clear
international boundaries of which it has an effective control; a democratic government;
and a capacity to enter into relations with other states.
Although they have not been applied outside Europe, Somaliland even meets all the
guidelines for recognition of new states set out by the European Community in 1992.
We
emphasise that the case of Somaliland is not one of secession from another state, and
neither is the OAU principle of the non-disturbance of colonial boundaries applicable as
the boundaries of Somaliland are internationally delineated and are of colonial origins.
We remind
the world that the people of Somaliland have determined their destiny and are asking for
an acceptance of their right to self-determination, which, in this particular case, does
not in any way affect the territorial integrity of any other state.
We
stress, again, and in particular to our African brethren, that because of the
above-mentioned reasons, the existence of the Republic of Somaliland will not set any
precedent for the break-up of states. On the contrary, it will enhance peace in the Horn
of Africa region as it marks the end of Somali irredentism.
The Chairperson of the
Somaliland Forum, Amina-Malko Omer Jama adds: "Yet again, whilst the world will
understandably, be pre-occupied with the war torn Somalia, the needs of the peaceful state
and people of the Republic of Somaliland will be neglected. This cannot continue, and
while the details of full recognition of the Somaliland State is still being worked out,
immediate arrangements ought to be made which can allow Somaliland access to international
banking, direct aid, postal links etc.
The international
community must acknowledge the existence of this country and, once and for all, delineate
the two Somali polities for the greater good of the international security and human
rights. The Somaliland people have achieved much on their own with little fanfare and must
not be overlooked again."
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