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Somaliland Foreign Minister meets U.S. and European diplomats

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ADDIS ABABA (Somalilandpress) — Somaliland Foreign minister, Mr. Abdullahi Mohamed Duale met with Ambassador Johnie Carson, United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, in Addis Ababa on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Mr. Mohamed Duale and Ambassador Carson discussed areas of mutual interest between Somaliland and the United States of America, regarding to the stability, security and democracy in the Horn of Africa.
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Ambassador Carson and his delegation were in Addis Ababa to participate in the African Union’s annual Head of State summit.

Whilst in Addis Ababa, the Foreign minister, Mr. Abdillahi Mohamed Duale also met with several European delegations including, Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead, British minister of state at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Mr. Duale also met with Mr. Pekka Haavisto, Special Representative to Sudan and the Horn from the Finnish Foreign ministry, Mr. Mette Knudsen, Head of Africa Department of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a delegation from the Norwegian Foreign office.

Mr. Duale on his side was accompanied by Somaliland’s vice-ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr. Ayanle Salad Diriye and Amb. Sigurd Illing, head of Independent Diplomat in Ethiopia, an independent organisation based in the United States.

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Source: Qarannews, 3 February 2010

Somaliland investors open new factory in Borama

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BORAMA (Somalilandpress) — A new factory, Aloe East African Factory, has opened in the city of Borama of Awdal region. The factory will produce both personal hygiene and home maintenance products.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by various dignitaries from the Somaliland government, members of parliament, Awdal regional officials, community elders and businessmen and other members of the community.

The Somaliland minister of Industry, Mr. Ahmed Ali Ubahle congratulated the people and officials of Awdal region for establishing the factory. Mr. Ubahle stated that the factory was the 46th new factory to be opened in Somaliland. Mr. Ubahle praised the owners of Aloe East African Factory for their initiative and pledged the support of the Somaliland government.
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Also speaking at the ceremony, The Minister of Planning, Mr. Ali Ibrahim Muhammad highlighted the benefits that the country will derive from this factory in terms of employment and revenue generation. Praising the people of Borama for lifting the level of knowledge in Somaliland, the minister said, “for forty years Somaliland’s educated people poured into what used to be called Somalia, after that Somaliland’s educated class moved to the Gulf countries until it got to the point where it became difficult to find even teachers in Somaliland, but now thanks to the efforts of the people of Borama, both educational and technological know how are being reestablished in Somaliland.”

The Governor of Awdal region, Mr. Muhammad Sheikh Abdillahi talked about the products of the factory and expressed his belief that these items will surpass imported goods.

Mr. Muhammad Abdullahi Yonis of Aloe East Africa Factory remarked on the start-up process of the new venture and some of the initial challenges.

Mr. Abdi Dahir Ali, from the Amoud Foundation noted that this is a beginning and there will be better days ahead in the economic progress of not just the city of Borama, the Awdal region, but for the whole of Somaliland.

Some of the products

Source: Qarannews, 4 February 2010

Picture: Rays Hotel, Borama

Somaliland Government Worries About Human Trafficking

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HARGEISA, 3 February 2010 (Somalilandpress) – Ms. Fatima Sudi, Somaliland’s minister of Family Affairs and Social Development said the human trafficking in Somaliland has increased in recent months. In a press conference, the minister said the voluntary migration among young men & women has significantly decreased, but human trafficking is taking its place. Ms. Sudi pleaded with those who are involved to take action to stop it.

“This is something new to us but widely known in the war torn places. It is called human trafficking,” she said.

Ms. Sudi said the Ministry have been involved in finding solutions to end the illegal migration among the youth which they managed to get some positive achievements. She mentioned that human trafficking is now taking the role which is more dangerous and most of the people do not know about it.

“We thank [the] UN & NGOs who help us on finding solutions for the human trafficking. We extend special thanks to the government of Japan who funded IOM to assist us on the problem,” the minister said. “There are people who are experts on carrying out human trafficking activities. They trick people, they tell them there is a better place where they can go and get a better life, but at the end those tricked will be helpless and end up working as slaves.”

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To illustrate the situation in southern Somalia, Ms. Sudi relayed the story of some children who were taken outside the country and later used as human spare parts in other countries. Nothing similar happened in Somaliland but this is the beginning of such actions in the country.

Prevention Activities

The minister said that the government started some activities to cope with the problem.

“There will be a massive awareness campaign in the regions of Awdal, Hargeisa, Sahil, Togdheer and Baligubadle,” she said.

Ms. Sudi said big signboards will be placed in these areas so people can better understand the danger of human trafficking. The minister asked the media outlets to carry out this message of awareness since this problem is new to this society.

Somalilandpress.com

Nigeria rejects sending troops to Somalia

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MOGADISHU (Somalilandpress)-Nigeria’s minister for foreign affairs has angrily responded to a question asked by his counterparts from Uganda and Ethiopia at the AU summit regarding the deployment of troops in Somalia previously pledged by his country and when that was likely to happen.

The minister said there is no peace to keep in Somalia and that any claims by some countries that they are going to restore peace and security in Somalia are insincere. The Nigerian minister of foreign affairs said they were not going to deploy their troops in Somalia.

Mr. Ojo Maduekwe played down the situation in Somalia which he said has the potential for a lot of danger. The minister denied there is any peace worth keeping in Somalia.

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“Where is the peace that they are talking about? The fighting is still ongoing and we do not see any peace that we can send our forces to keep. Some of our military officers have gone to Mogadishu and failed to see a single place that was peaceful. We do not therefore know of this peace that is being spoken of that needs to be kept,” Maduekwe told to Ugandan and Ethiopian minsters on the sideline of African Union summit in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Nigeria pledged to deploy their troops in Somalia on the 13th African Union’s Heads of States meeting. It has sent senior military officers to Somalia towards the end of last year to observe the situation.

The Nigerian officers underplayed deploying troops in Somalia. The statement by the Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister comes at a time Somalia’s government appealed assistance in the form of arms, soldiers and cash saying that could be used for restoring peace to the warn town country.

By: Abdinasir Mohamed

Email: abdinasir4@gmail.com

Mogadishu-Somalia

International Experts Say Somaliland’s Recognition Will Assist In Strengthening Accountability In Regions That Are Now Pirate Infected

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Cambridge, 3 February 2010 (Somalilandpress) – A group of twenty-five scholars, diplomats, lawyers, military officers, shipping industry officials, and other experts on maritime piracy and Somalia from nine nations who convened at the Harvard Kennedy School in December 2009 have recommended that one of the ways of exerting control over and reducing the threat from pirates is to recognize Somaliland.

“If African states and the AU can be persuaded to recognize the now independent but otherwise unacknowledged polity of Somaliland, doing so will strengthen the incentives for Puntland, which aspires to greater autonomy, and parts or all of the remainder of Somalia to make similar progress in terms of political institution building.

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Recognition of Somaliland will thus assist in strengthening accountability and governance in regions that are now pirate infected. Indeed, if Puntland knew that international engagement were possible, following on a full recognition of Somaliland, a powerful incentive would exist for Puntland to exert control over and reduce the threat from pirates on its soil,” the experts said

Click below for the full text of the group’s recommendations for combating maritime piracy off the Somalia coasts:

Combating Maritime Piracy

Source: Somaliland Times

No Alternative To President Rayale

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HARGEISA, 3 February 2010 (Somalilandpress) – 2010, without doubt, is one of the most crucial year for Somaliland and its people. It is a year of hope and dreams and a year to take the deserved opportunity to reflect upon a near decade of peace and political and social stability as well as growth. It is also the year that all of this could be lost if the Somaliland’s infant democracy is not protected from key internal and external threats.

The external threats are difficult to address as they come in the form of threats of terrorist acts at the hands of the lunatic, murderous, thugs who claim to represent Islam in Somalia and who go by the name of Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam. However, there is a more deadly and equally disastrous threat closer to home as the Somaliland elections near.

Both of the opposition parties in Somaliland have been working their way around the globe raising awareness of the many key social issues Somaliland faces and has faced under the current UDUB administration lead by President Dahir Kahin Rayale.

At their conferences in Bristol, UK, held a week apart, both UCID and Kulmiye representatives informed the public audience that Somaliland was facing constitutional crisis as it was been lead by a leader without a legitimate political mandate. They also informed the public that UDUB and its leader had subjected the citizens of the nation to neglect and Human Rights violations through the abuse of the privileges of political office.

Faisal Ali Warabe expressed his disgust at what he saw as abuse of political office and the lack of progress after all these years of UDUB rule. The Kulmiye deputy chairman argued that, unlike the late president Egal who Rayale was brought in to replace, President Rayale is an untrustworthy, cold hearted leader who is out of touch with public opinion and the needs of the public at home.

Both of the opposition parties also made it clear that President Dahir Rayale was deeply unpopular and was delaying the elections because he realises that he will lose the election with a massive landslide. The public were finally going to show their anger and frustration with his mismanagement and poor leadership. However, the opposition parties inevitably disagreed on who should replace him and his “deeply unpopular” political party.

Both the opposition parties, to a hail of claps and audience enthusiasm fuelled by a nationalistic song, brought forward a case for why they would be best to replace UDUB and President Rayale. As if using the services of the same speech writer and enlisting the services of similar Think Tanks, they both promised better free education and healthcare for all, better roads, better protection of individual human rights and better governance. Both promised to be the government that Somaliland yearns for to take it forward to recognition and greater national and international success.

Although not an UDUB supporter, one was not impressed by the opposition party’s policies and ideas. Where to some they sounded radical and new, most of their policy pledges were just that and no more as everything promised by both parties were unlikely to be delivered by any Somaliland administration at present or in the near future as a result of a lack of funding, expertise and international recognition. What struck one most was the naivety of the opposition’s leadership who were under the honest impression that if President Rayale is beaten at the general election than Somaliland’s key social and political issues will be automatically resolved. As if, he was the centre of all their policies, undermining President Rayale’s government monopolised both of the opposition Party’s major conferences in the UK. This was a very poor political tactic as the touring executive members of the opposition Parties were made up of some of President Rayale’s former UDUB colleagues who abandoned him for the opposition just before what they perceive to be an election he and his UDUB party will lose. Like rats deserting a sinking ship in the middle of the night, these former UDUB members buried any real chance of taking the opposition seriously as on the one hand both political Parties are working tirelessly to distance themselves from UDUB and its leader whilst at the same time offering political refuge to the careers of failed former UDUB party dissidents.

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What were made crystal clear from the Somaliland opposition Parties main European conferences are that not only are all their aims similar but that there is absolutely no way one could ideologically differentiate between them. Are they Socialists? Liberals? Conservatives? Do they know what these are? Do they care? Have they considered whether their goals are also the goals of the current government? I doubt it very much. What I suspect is that these politicians are fighting over the purse strings of the people of Somaliland and have very little Political convictions or direction. Even worst, it is arguable to suggest for some of the members of the opposition’s delegation, ego, recognition and career advancement are the root of their desire for power. Far from convincing their audiences in the UK that they are the best Political Party to represent Somaliland and take it forward after the next general election, what the opposition Parties illustrated was why they were only fit for opposition government.

The Rayale administration has many flaws and many mistakes had been made by key members within the governing group during their time in office. However, what cannot be faulted is President Rayale’s success in maintaining law and order, peace and the respect he commands abroad as an agreeable, approachable national leader. The character of a nation’s leader is fundamental to its every aspiration as the leader is the international symbol of the nation and whereas President Rayale is patient, approachable, internationally well liked and agreeable, his counterparts in the opposition camp have proven themselves to be anything but any of these. Silanyo is hot tempered, impulsive and heavily relies on his “father of the nation” delusion as a result of been a key member of the SNM in the war against Siad Barre. Whilst no one is denying that he did play a part in Somaliland’s defence against the rogue army of Siad Barre, the fact is so did many others who are quietly getting on with their lives without forcing the general public to be grateful for their efforts.

Silanyo worryingly demonstrates some dictatorial characteristics as the majority of his argument for political office is based on his misguided belief that because he was a key member of the SNM in their struggle against Siad Barre, he should be a leader of Somaliland as a right and a reward. Unlike Silanyo, Faisal Ali Warabe is charming, warm and truly nationalistic but the key hurdle he faces is his relatively younger age, his lack of political experience and a UCID party membership that is relatively weak and not well established when compared to the other opposition Parties. And oh, of course, a member or two who openly admit to lying to the public when they were members of the UDUB governments executive before joining UCID for whatever reason they claim.

The voting public in Somaliland should not, like the opposition Parties would wish, turn the upcoming general election, whenever it may be called, into a referendum on President Rayale. The fact is that there is very little choice between all the main political Parties and most of the idle promises made by the opposition will not materialise due to lack of funding, expertise and national recognition. Whilst change is good, a change for the better is much more beneficial in the long term and this is what is needed most desperately in Somaliland. By simply changing governments and installing a different leader nothing will change. However, if there was to be a change of government style as oppose to government than perhaps there would be greater chance for change and progress. As a result of a lack of ideological divide between the main political Parties, there is a need for national unity and strategy for development and this will only occur if there is a coalition government made up of all the political talents in Somaliland regardless of which Party they may represent.

Coalition government is ideal in that it will bring international support, aid and even make the case for independence stronger to the wider international community. More importantly, the formation of a coalition government will inspire confidence in the political process globally as it will show that the politicians are mature enough to put petty Party politics aside for the pursuit of the greater good of their electorates.

As much as one wishes for it, I doubt a unity government will materialise because this would require the politicians to work in the PUBLIC interest and realise that Somaliland is bigger than any individual or government. The people’s needs are real and what is at stake is more than just a general election but the future direction of nearly four million people. The Opposition Parties have made a case for better government time and time again but with a similar message and the same weak leadership as last time they lost the election to the current administration lead by President Rayale, it is doubtful they will offer any real alternative to President Rayale and his UDUB government.

Liban Obsiye.
libanbakaa@hotmail.com

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Views expressed in the opinion articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the editorial

Somalia leader appeals international support, rules out talks with rebels‏.

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MOGADISHU (Somalilandpress)-The president of the Transitional FederalGovernment of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad, has accused theinternational community of failing to play their role towards Somalia,adding that his country was in dire need of their support. Speaking at the African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital, AddisAbaba, The president has asked the world for political support, troopsand weapons, which he said will be used to fight against Islamicgroups fighting his government and western countries policies.. ‘’ We ask for more troops to join the African Union PeacekeepingMission those are doing a very good task’’ he said in his speech. He waved the international community to show their commitment ofpacifying Somalia, as well as restoring law and order. He has also outlined that his government is in what he termed as”preparation of liberation”, which is about a war against the armedrebel groups. “The Transitional Government is ready to liberate its country. We arefighting against terrorists who invaded our country and its our dutyto fight them” said Sheikh Ahmad, said on the sideline of the AfricanUnion leaders. He did not mention on the civilians suffering [because of the war] andways to help them, but he said that Somalis are in need of peace, lawand order, adding that all these depend on implementing the interestof the transitional government.

The president has also said that the era of talks has ended, byaccusing Al-Shabab of trying to take the control of the East Africanregion, adding that the military power which Al-Shabab hassubstantiated that. He urged neighbouring countries to extend full support to his government. The prop up call by Sharif came as the rebels dug trenches near thepresidential palace, posing threats to his weak government. Residentsare critic to the government for failing quick security measures andlong-drawn-out failed promises on the security. SomalilandpressMogadishu-Somalia

My Farm "Is Full of Mines"

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HARGEISA, 2 February 2009 (Somalilandpress) – Mohamed Olhaye Nour, 60, last cultivated his farm in Abuda, 24km southwest of Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa, more than two decades ago.

“Before the war, our life was good; we did not worry about making ends meet,” he said. “In an average year, our crop production was about 40-50 `jawan’ (one `jawan’ = 100kg sack of maize and sorghum mixed together).

“We kept 15-20 `jawan’ in reserve. We used the remainder in different ways, such as for bread, ‘African cake’ [maize meal] eaten with milk, or sorghum with milk.”

Nour, who has two wives and 17 children, stopped cultivating his land because it “is full of mines”. Two people who ventured onto the land got injured – one losing both arms. Nour has also lost 36 livestock to the mines.

Most of the unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Abuda was planted during the 1977-78 war between Somalia and Ethiopia, according to local residents. Some is from the 1981-91 war between the Somali National Movement and the Somali National Army.

According to Nour, many residents of Abuda were agro-pastoralists before these wars. Most fled to Ethiopia when clashes first broke out. When they returned in 1991, they found their farmland had been mined. Now they mostly survive as livestock keepers.

Experts in the self-declared republic say more than 250,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance, including anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, are buried in Somaliland.

UXO is scattered across northwestern Somalia, from Elayo to Loyada and from Bihen to Gestir.

Demining

Over the years, farmers wrote many letters to the Somaliland government requesting that the Abuda area be demined, Nour said. In 2009, the UK-based organization HALO Trust started demining farmland in this area.

Hargeisa, according to HALO, was heavily mined around military bases, refugee camps, private houses and the airport. The war between Ethiopia and Somalia also left behind large amounts of unexploded ordnance.

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Some UXO has, unfortunately, been harvested from mines for illegal reuse. This is particularly the case with anti-tank mines and explosive ordnance. Another problem is that most mines in Somaliland are plastic-bodied, making them difficult to locate using conventional demining equipment, according to HALO.

“We started demining operations in this area [Abuda] in early November 2009 after we received complaints from residents,” said Hassan Kosar, operations officer for HALO in Hargeisa. “We hope to finish in early May 2010, if we have adequate manpower capacity.”

Two other mine clearance institutions now exist in Somaliland – the Mine Action Center and the National Demining Agency.

HALO is currently supporting the National Demining Agency to expand mine-clearing operations, because the Somaliland government’s budget for demining institutions is limited.

“This is the first time a local institution is going to engage in mine clearance operations in Somaliland after HALO Trust trains 40 deminers for us,” said Mohamed Were, operations officer for the Somaliland National Demining Agency. “[But] our problem is lack of funds.”

At least eight hectares owned by 95 families in the Abuda area were mined, as well as several hectares further to the north.

“I have not cultivated my farm since 1988 but now that demining is going on, I hope the clearing of our farms will be completed before the rains come,” Nour told IRIN.

Source: IRIN

COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 34TH EXTRA- ORDINARY SESSION OF THE IGAD COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

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ADDIS ABABA, 2 February 2009 (Somalilandpress) – The 34th Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the IGAD Council of Ministers was held in Addis Ababa on January 30, 2010. The Council was chaired by H.E. Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the current Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers.

Present at the Council meeting were H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Djibouti; H.E. Moses Wetang’ula, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. Ali Ahmed Jama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia; H.E. Sam Kutesa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of the Republic of Uganda and H.E. Dr. Tekeda Alemu, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia H.E. Hassan E. El Talib, Ambassador of Sudan to Djibouti and Representative to IGAD.

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The Council was briefed by H.E Ali Ahmed Jama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the TFG of Somalia, Eng. Mahboub Maalim Executive Secretary of IGAD, Hon. Kipruto arap Kirwa, the IGAD Facilitator for the Somalia Peace and National Reconciliation and Mr. Lissane Yohannes, IGAD Special Envoy to the Assessment and Evaluation Commission of the CPA.

H.E Jean Ping, Chairperson of the Commission of the AU, H.E Ahmadou Ould Abdalla, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations to Somalia, H.E Stefano Pontecorvo, Director (Adjoint), Sub-Sahran Africa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, representing the IGAD Partners Forum (IPF) and H.E Ahmed Salah-Eldin Noah Ambassador of the League of Arab states to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to AU and UNECA made statements at the opening of the meeting of the Council.

After deliberating at length on the situation in Somalia, the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the situation in Yemen and institutional matters of the IGAD Secretariat, Council adopted the following communiqué.

On Somalia

Council,

1. Takes Note of the briefs on the current political and security situation in Somalia as presented by the Foreign Minister of the TFG and the IGAD Facilitator for the Somalia Peace and National reconciliation as well as the statements made by the Chairperson of the IPF and the Representative of the League of Arab States.

2. Takes note also of the Communiqué issued on 17 December 2009 by the International Contact Group on Somalia at the conclusion of its meeting in Jeddah and the communiqué issued by the AU Peace and security Council on 11 January 2010 both of which affirmed the unswerving support to the TFG for its tireless effort to bring about national reconciliation in Somalia and reiterated that the Djibouti process remains the sole basis for international effort on Somalia.

3. Commends the continued endeavour of the TFG to work for the peace and national reconciliation of Somalia despite enormous challenges and reiterates its unswerving support as the former forges ahead to achieve the targets set for the transition period and in this connection; calls upon the international community to redouble its efforts by providing the TFG the financial, material and technical assistance necessary to rebuild the state institutions.

4. Appeals to the international community and in particular to the member states of the IPF to recognise the efforts made by the TFG to develop a realistic national budget for 2010 and its commitment to raise some of the finance from domestic sources and to provide budgetary support which is critical in terms of stabilisation of the country and reviving of the state institutions. In this connection, Council decides to send a Ministerial delegation to selected partner countries and organisations to solicit their assistance.

5. Underlines the need by the top leadership of the TFI’s to work in unison and avoid recriminations in the interest of devoting their full time and energy to rebuilding the state institutions and carrying out other tasks as envisaged in the Transitional Federal Charter.

6. Welcomes the adoption by the UN Security council of Resolution 1907 (2009) on 23rd December 2009 which imposes sanctions on Eritrea, namely an arms embargo and travel restriction and a freeze on the assets of its political and military leaders for providing political, financial and logistical support to armed groups engaged in undermining peace and reconciliation in Somalia and also as a punitive measure against Eritrea’s acts of aggression and occupation of the territory Djibouti.

7. Acknowledges with appreciation the role played by all member states of the African Union, the AU Commission and in particular the member states of the Peace and Security Council for the steadfast support they rendered to IGAD that eventually led to the adoption of Resolution 1907 (2009). In this connection, Council commends the Ambassadors of IGAD member states at the United Nations and in particular the Ambassador of Uganda for the coordination role that he played representing Uganda as a member of the UN Security Council.

8. Affirms the commitment of member states of IGAD to work closely together with the UN Security council and the Sanctions Committee established pursuant to Resolution 1907 (2009) and take all actions necessary to ensure that the sanction measures are implemented fully. In this connection, Council calls upon all member states of the UN to vigorously pursue the resolution and take appropriate measures as stipulated therein with a view to achieving its objective which is the attainment of peace, security and stability in Somalia and the Sub region at large.

9. Calls upon the Sanctions Committee to designate, as a matter of urgency, the concerned Eritrean military and political leaders to enable an effective sanctions regime to be implemented. It further calls on the Security Council to take prompt action as per earlier requests of IGAD and AU on the imposition a no-fly zone and blockade on specific ports of Somalia to prevent the entry of foreign elements and logistical supplies to the terrorist groups of Al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam.

10. Reiterates its serious concern over the acts of terrorism by Al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam that continue to target officials and armed forces of the TFG, AMISOM Peace Keeping troops and the civilian population in general; and notes in particular that the terrorist groups have recently expanded their acts of terrorism to the relatively stable regions of Somaliland and Puntland. In this regard, Council calls upon the authorities in Somaliland and Puntland to coordinate their response and also work closely with the TFG to overcome the common threat that they are facing from the Al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam.

11. Urges the TFG and Ahlu Sunnah Wal-Jama to continue their dialogue with a view to creating a united front against the extremist and terrorist groups. In this connection Council notes with encouragement the recent resistance and victories scored by the Ahlu-Sunnah Wal-Jama against the Al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam militia in the Gulgudud and Hiran regions.

12. Underlines the need for close coordination between the TFG, AMISOM and the IGAD member states on the one hand and the international partners involved in providing security assistance to Somalia on the other hand so that the objective of attaining peace in Somalia is achieved within the shortest time possible. Council further emphasises the urgent need to put in place a unified command and control structure and ensure that the Somalia security forces are well equipped.

On the situation in the Republic of Yemen

13. Expresses serious concern over the security and political developments that would have a grave consequence to the peace and stability of Yemen as well as the neighbouring countries including all IGAD Member States; and affirms its solidarity and support to the Government of Yemen while encouraging the latter’s efforts to resolve the problem with opposition groups through dialogue.

14. Calls upon the forthcoming AU Summit to send a clear message of support to the Government of Yemen and warn against any interference by foreign forces aimed at undermining the unity and stability of the Republic of Yemen.

On the Sudan

15. Takes note of the report of the Special Envoy of IGAD to the AEC on the status of the implementation of the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

16. Expresses its concern regarding the progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and urges the two parties to commit themselves to the spirit and intent of the Agreement.

17. Reiterates its support to the efforts being exerted by the two parties to deal with outstanding issues in the implementation of the CPA and urges them to move swiftly towards the full implementation of the Agreement and encourages the parties to continue the dialogue.

18. Welcomes the acceptance of the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on Abyei by both parties and the spirit manifested following the decisions by the Ngonk Dinka and Messeriya as well as the ongoing demarcation of the Abyei border as per the ruling of the Court and urges the committee to complete the demarcation as soon as possible.

19. Welcomes also the on-going efforts by both parties to prepare and conduct a free and fair election during the month of April 2010.

20. Welcomes further the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Government of United State of America, Rtd. General Scott Gration in facilitating the ongoing tripartite mechanism on outstanding issues and recognizes the Points of Agreements tabled to the two parties as possible solutions to the impasse on various issues including the census results.

21. Urges the parties to exert more efforts to overcome the delays in the demarcation of the North-South border, redeployment of forces and disbandment of militias, the integration of “joint/integrated units” and the impasses on the census results.

22. Directs the IGAD Secretariat to come up with programs and seminars to inculcate the culture of peace in the Sudan.

23. Decides to dispatch a high level Ministerial delegation to the Sudan within the month of February 2010 to discuss with the signatories of the CPA for the full and speedy implementation of the CPA and resolve the outstanding issues.


On Institutional Matters of IGAD

24. Takes note of the brief presented by the Executive Secretary on the progress made in the development of an IGAD Peace and security Strategy, the Minimum Integration Plan and the organizational restructuring.

25. Appreciates the progress made so far and encourages the Executive Secretary to complete, in close collaboration with the Committee of Ambassadors, the tasks as entrusted to the Secretariat by the Council of Ministers.

Done in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30th January 2010

African Union members are awaiting a report on Somaliland and other political issues in the Horn

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ADDIS ABABA (Somalilandpress) — The Namibia Foreign Minister, Mr. Marco Mukoso Hausiku stated in an interview with Geeska Afrika, that African Union members are awaiting a report on Somaliland and other political issues in the Horn of Africa.

Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before the gathering of AU Foreign ministers, Mr. Mukoso Hausika, confirmed to members of the Somaliland media, that the African Union is awaiting the final report on the situation in the Horn of Africa relating to the political conflicts between Eritrea and Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia and the case of Somaliland continued campaign for international recognition.

Responding to a question from the Somaliland media regarding the international recognition of their country, Mr. Mukoso Hausika stated “It is not prudent for Namibia to commit itself to a position without receiving the forth coming report on Somaliland . But, we will judge the issue on its merits and take into consideration the conclusion of the report.”

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Mr. Mukoso Haukisa continued “Namibia is willing to explore co-operation with all the people of Africa and the world. We would like to see more mutual co-operation between African nations, in terms of the exchange of ideas, knowledge and all manner of assistance.”

Mr. Marco Mukoso Haukisa has been Namibian Foreign minister for the past seven years.

The Republic of Namibia formerly known as South West Africa gained its independence from South Africa in 1991 under the leadership of Sam Nujoma.

The Republic of Namibia is a multi-party democracy and a member of the Commonwealth.

Source: Geeska Afrika, 2 February 2010

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