Somalia rejects enclave's warlord charge

[Garyaqaan2]

war maxaatir ku celi

 

Somalia rejects enclave's "warlord" charge

- Thursday, February 10, 2005 at 01:41

 

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The Somali government will not be diverted from its goal of national reconciliation by a breakaway territory's provocative allegation that it lacks legitimacy and has a warlord for a president, an official said on Sunday.

 

The breakaway Somaliland territory on the Gulf of Aden declared independence from anarchic Somalia in 1991 and has since enjoyed relative peace but is unrecognised internationally.

 

"How can we deal with a warlord who is not elected by his own people?" Somaliland President Dahir Rayale Kahin told Reuters in an interview on Thursday. "I don't see it as a government, it's a dream of a government that they have."

 

Yusuf Ismail Baribari, spokesman of Somalia President Abdullahi Yusuf, said Kahin's remarks, made during a visit to South Africa, were personal, provocative and undiplomatic.

 

But Yusuf's government, formed at peace talks in neighbouring Kenya last year, would nevertheless talk to anyone in Somaliland to cultivate good relations between the northeast region and the rest of the country, Baribari said.

 

"Since the president of the Somaliland administration seems not to be interested in a far-sighted and constructive dialogue, we are ready to continue the dialogue without any preconditions with all people of goodwill among all the political and traditional leaders of Somaliland," Baribari told Reuters.

 

Yusuf was elected on October 10 as head of Somalia's government by delegates attending a national conference held in Nairobi.

 

Hoping to turn a new page, Yusuf has pledged to work peacefully with Somaliland as he tries to restore order to Somalia, which descended into anarchy in 1991 following the ousting of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

 

He has vowed to bring stability to Somalia within one year.

 

Major nations are repelled by its image as a quagmire in which U.S. forces floundered a decade ago, and U.S. officials see it as a potential safe-haven for Islamic militants.

 

Somaliland, a region of 3.5 to 4.5 million people, won independence from Britain in 1960 and formed a united republic with ex-Italian Somalia. An uprising against Barre was followed by years of devastation as he turned his forces against the northwestern enclave. When Barre fled, Somaliland split away.

 

Yusuf's supporters say that while they seek the unification of the country they will never force Somaliland to rejoin it.

 

In late October, the enclave urged Yusuf, former leader of Somalia's Puntland territory which neighbours Somaliland, to withdraw members of his clan from near its border, accusing him of attacking Somaliland even after his election as president.

 

Yusuf's aides and several diplomats in the region say Somaliland started the fighting, which has now abated.

 

Somaliland has fought sporadic clashes with Puntland for years over the ownership of eastern areas of Somaliland which Puntland's leaders claim as their own on the basis of ethnicity.

 

Source: Reuters South Africa

 

 

 

waa hal umadoo ku hadasha hal luuqad.

waa hal umadoo ku dhagan hal diin.

waa hal umadoo ku dhagan walaal tinimo.

waa hal umadoo isku xush meesa daris nimada.

waa hal umadoo isku naxariis badan.

 

 

sideebaa loo kala goon karaa?

[Gabbal]

"Since the president of the Somaliland administration seems not to be interested in a far-sighted and constructive dialogue, we are ready to continue the dialogue without any preconditions with all people of goodwill among all the political and traditional leaders of Somaliland," Baribari told Reuters.

Abdulahi Yusuf was smart in choosing this man as his spokesman. Very articulate and true politician, too bad I can't say the same for "President" Riyaale.

[Garyaqaan2]

Abdulahi Yusuf was smart in choosing this man as his spokesman. Very articulate and true politician, too bad I can't say the same for "President" Riyaale.

 

 

HornAfrique

 

 

sxb you got that right, he absolutely made excellent selection.

 

 

look at Mr bari bari

 

Yusuf Ismail Baribari, spokesman of Somalia President Abdullahi Yusuf, said Kahin's remarks, made during a visit to South Africa, were personal, provocative and undiplomatic.

 

 

[CHE]

It is just pathetic.......aint it ?

Who said Somaliland was a separate entity? Their politicians,rather president, is equally as unpolished as the rest of the Somali politicians.