Kowneyn Posted November 5, 2004 The European Union Together With The United States Is Believed To Favor The Recognition Of Somaliland Defense & Foreign Affairs — --- — 03 November, 2004 Defense & Foreign Affairs Daily, 2 Nov. 2004= From GIS Stations in London and Washington, plus sources in the Horn of Africa. Sources in London and Washington have confirmed that the UK and US governments have privately expressed anger and concern over the fact that the newly-elected President of Somalia, Col. Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed, undertook as his first major act as President of Somalia, the instigation of a military attack against the Republic of Somaliland (former British Somaliland, and a former member of the union with Italian Somaliland, to create Somalia in 1960). Pres. Yussuf was reportedly warned that his actions would jeopardize Western relations with the new Somalia Government, which, for the most part, is functioning in exile, given the ongoing conflicts within the former Italian Somaliland. See Defense & Foreign Affairs Daily, October 13, 2004: Radical Warlord, With Ties to Islamist Terrorist Groups, Elected Somalia President. Defense & Foreign Affairs Daily, October 14, 2004: Election in Exile of Puntland Warlord as Somalia President Raises Fears of New Internecine War in the Horn. As well, sources said, Pres. Yussuf’s actions could precipitate support by the US and UK for Somaliland, a step which could bring the Republic of Somaliland back into full international recognition. The Defense & Foreign Affairs Daily report of October 14, 2004, noted: There were concerns ... that [newly-elected Pres. Yussuf] would attempt to invade the neighboring Republic of Somaliland, as his Puntland forces did in August 2004. The concerns were prophetic, although not difficult. Col. Yussuf’s Puntland region forces had repeatedly attacked Somaliland positions in the past, and three attacks took place following Yussuf’s election to the Presidency by the Somalia Parliament in exile in Nairobi, Kenya, on October 10, 2004. On Friday, October 29, 2004, at around 09.00hrs local, on the day of prayer and rest, and during Ramadan, Puntland forces attacked three Somaliland military camps around the area of Adhi Addeeye, 25 miles north-west of Las-Anood, inside Somaliland territory. A letter of protest issued by Somaliland Foreign Minister Mrs Edna Adan Ismail on October 30, 2004, noted: We strongly believe that the attacks follow recent consultations between Abdullahi Yussuf and his former deputy in the Somalia State of Puntland, Mr. Mohamed Abdi Hashi, who is now the new warlord of that region, with the sole aim of discrediting and destabilizing the peace and tranquility of Somaliland, while at the same time attempting to justify Abdullahi Yussuf’s request for International Peacekeeping Forces for Somalia. The protest continued: Following the attack, the forces of Somaliland drove away the invading militia, causing them to suffer heavy losses both in life and military hardware. The responsibility for these deaths lies squarely on the shoulders of Abdullahi Yussuf and are tragedies that would not have happened if Abdullahi Yussuf had honored the promises of reconciliation he had only last week made to the world [when he was named President of Somalia]. So far, Somaliland has tolerated the numerous provocative actions of Abdullahi Yussuf, including the assassination attempt [against] the President of Somaliland while in Las-Anood in 2002, and the occupation of some areas of Somaliland since 2003. In the interest of peace and security in the region, Somaliland had up to now shown extreme patience and restraint. However, as a result of these recent, successive and naked provocations on the part of the Puntland State of Somalia, Somaliland’s tolerance and peaceful intentions are withering away. The Government of Somaliland wishes to reassure the international community that it will not pursue the militia of Puntland State into Somalia provided that they voluntarily withdraw their militia out of Somaliland territory. The reassurance we gave to the British Foreign Minister for Africa only last week still holds good for Somaliland even though our patience is wearing thin. Foreign Minister Adan Ismail said that Somaliland would not hesitate to defend its borders, and called on the international community to pressure Pres. Yussuf to withdraw the Puntland forces from Somaliland. Significantly, GIS sources in the Horn of Africa said that there was clear evidence that units of the ****** National Liberation Front (ONLF) participated with the Puntland militia in the attacks in the Adhi Addeeye area of Puntland on October 29, 2004. A considerable number of ONLF fighters were among the 60 dead attackers. The Puntland-led operation cost the attackers a reported four senior commanders, including the commanding officer and his assistant whose bodies were now in the custody of the Somaliland Army; 43 were captured, seven of whom were moved to hospital, and four other attackers died en route to hospital. On the Somaliland side, three died including the commander of its 31st battalion. Fleeing the battle field, the Puntland militia kidnapped many civilians as hostages and later declared them captured soldiers. Meanwhile, UK sources said that there had been a break in the case of the two British subjects who were assassinated on October 21, 2003, by the Islamic Union/Islamic Unity Party (aI-Ittihad al-Islami: AIAI). US intelligence and Somaliland intelligence agencies believed that they know now who killed the two British teachers in the town of Sheikh, where they worked for SOS Kinderdorf, an Austrian children's organization. The AIAI gunmen were now fugitives in Somalia. In a related development, on October 27, 2004, the British Minister for African Affairs, Chris Mullin, who had just concluded a three-day visit to Somaliland, told BBC Somali Service that the Republic of Somaliland fulfilled all the criteria for recognizing states. He noted: We must accept the realities on the ground. Somaliland has done everything we have asked of her. They have created a democratic country, and succeeded to rebuild their country from scratch without outside assistance. He was speaking in response to a question as to whether Britain was breaking ranks with the international community’s stand that there was only one Somalia. Speaking about his visit to Somaliland and what he saw, the Minister said that the people of Somaliland were concerned that the international community was going to force them to re-unite with the people they escaped from, in the first place. Minister Mullin noted: I re-assured them that Britain would not allow Somaliland to be forced back into a union with Somalia. The European Union together with the United States is believed to favor the recognition of Somaliland. However, regional observers say they do not want to be the first to grant recognition to Somaliland. Instead, they want an African state to be the first to recognize Somaliland, before they, too, can follow suit. At the same time, the Ethiopian and South African governments have indicated that they would immediately recognize Somaliland, provided that it was clear that other states would also do so Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NASSIR Posted November 5, 2004 can you provide the link? FACT: WHY do you guys drool for the slightest attention of Europeans? Why do you hold their say with such a high regard? You probably are under the transition of marginality and might possibly be scapegoat from both Somalia and them. Be cautious fellas, i am so worried of your potential steps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oda_Nobunaga Posted November 5, 2004 Originally posted by NASSIR: can you provide the link? FACT: WHY do you guys drool for the slightest attention of Europeans? Why do you hold their say with such a high regard? You probably are under the transition of marginality and might possibly be scapegoat from both Somalia and them. Be cautious fellas, i am so worried of your potential steps. Good deeds are not rewarded in our corner of the world, peace and reconciliation is not worth much. The ability to defend ones territory and exact punishment on you enemies is what is respected world wide and especially in africa. Its about time the Somaliland government woke up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nationalist Posted November 5, 2004 Chris Mullin, the British minister for African affairs of the Foreign Affairs ministry, came to the horn of Africa with one main reason. He came to show support for the Abdullahi Yusuf government and congratulate him in name of the UK. He also asked him not to attack Sland, since the Sland government had send an urgent letter to the British government. That letter was based upon Abdullahi Yusuf's election as Somalia's president and it stated that Sland was fearing for it's safety. The British minister flew from his meeting with Abdullahi Yusuf in Addis Ababa to Hargeisa to meet the Sland government. That meeting in Hargeisa was meant to warn the Slanders not to commit any actions that could jeapordise Southern Somalia's reconciliation. Nothing more and nothing less. He stayed in Hargeisa and Berbera for a few days, repeating the stance of the UK. That stance is that the UK seeks a united Somalia achieved through peaceful initiatives. The man surveyed the British development projects and served as wailing wall to the Slanders. He left Hargeisa having promised absolutely nothing, but warned not to engage in activities that could damage Southern Somalia's peace and reconciliation process. Yet, the Slanders interpreted and twisted C.Mullin's statements during his visit in Sland as a pro-Sland one. They believe more than ever that recognition is near. Once again the Brits have sturred the mindset of the Slanders just by blinking an eye. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jumatatu Posted November 5, 2004 Originally posted by Nationalist: Chris Mullin, the British minister for African affairs of the Foreign Affairs ministry, came to the horn of Africa with one main reason. He came to show support for the Abdullahi Yusuf government and congratulate him in name of the UK. He also asked him not to attack Sland, since the Sland government had send an urgent letter to the British government. Come again...! eh..eh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mohamed nuur Posted November 6, 2004 Another Propagandaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Try again, this one clearly failed [i considered posting of these posts, as last attempt to revive the S/land dessicusion that was closed few weeks ago, Somalia is one again, and some people just hate to know that fact.] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted November 6, 2004 Nationalist is right. Chris Mullens went to Narobi first and stated in front of the new Parliment that he supported the process and the election of the new President. As for Somaliland's march to clan warfare, we shall see how it benefits them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
