By Goth Mohamed Goth
Hargeisa – The President of the Republic of Somaliland, His Excellency Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Cirro), accompanied by the Vice President, convened a National Consultative Summit. The gathering brought together the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament (the Guurti and the House of Representatives), members of the Guurti, Cabinet Ministers, and the National Peace Committee, with the objective of reaching a lasting resolution to the conflict in the Awdal and Selel regions.
Held in an atmosphere defined by a deep sense of national responsibility, the President began by extending his official condolences to the families and relatives of the civilians who lost their lives in the ongoing conflict affecting parts of the Awdal and Selel regions.
The summit conducted a thorough examination of the conflict situation in the two regions, prioritizing the implementation of a coordinated National Relief Effort aimed at ending hostilities and preventing further bloodshed among the brotherly communities living in those areas.
The President impressed upon all national stakeholders in attendance that peace, dialogue between the conflicting parties, and the resolution of disputes in accordance with Somaliland’s legal framework and traditional peacebuilding practices must take precedence. He reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to protecting the lives of citizens and preserving the nation’s overall stability.
The meeting was characterized by national unity and the adoption of firm measures to strengthen peace efforts. Participants reached a consensus to collaborate closely on relief efforts and to work jointly toward ending the conflict, restoring peace, and reestablishing harmonious coexistence among the brotherly communities.
The President of the Republic of Somaliland issued the following directives:
- An immediate cessation of hostilities, with priority given to safeguarding the lives and well-being of civilians.
- The activation of a unified National Relief Effort, bringing together all relevant state security institutions, traditional leaders, and community elders.
- The reinforcement of dialogue and conflict resolution mechanisms, guided by the nation’s laws and longstanding traditions of dispute resolution.
- The consolidation of security and stability in the Awdal and Selel regions to prevent the conflict from spreading.
In response, all parliamentary leaders, Cabinet members, and the National Peace Committee convened by the President for the National Consultative Summit expressed their strong support for the National Relief Effort spearheaded by the President to end the conflict in Awdal and Selel. They affirmed their full backing for all measures aimed at resolving the conflict and halting the loss of civilian life.
Separately, during the President’s meeting with the nation’s elders on the National Relief Effort, participants underscored the importance of unity, social cohesion, and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Awdal and Selel. All parties committed to playing their respective roles in establishing lasting peace and bringing the conflict to a close.
