SOMALI POLITICAL LEADERS PRESS RELEASE

[Gabbal]

On behalf of the Somali delegates attending the Somali National Reconciliation Conference and as representatives of the Somali people at large and also as signatories of all the agreements so far reached, we would like to take this opportunity to inform both the local and International media, that the Conference has now entered its third phase with effect from 16th September, 2003, after all the delegates have adopted the Somali National Charter which will form the basis for the transitional federal government in the next four years.

 

Therefore we would like to request Somali public and the international community:

 

1. To Support the historic break through which the Conference at Mbagathi has reached.

 

2. To advise the few individuals who opposed this historic achievement not to be given the opportunity to derail the talks, which the Somali people fully support. This is in line with the accepted democratic principles.

 

3. Finally, we would like to point out to the international community that the statements made by Mr. Abdiqassim were made in his personal capacity and do not necessarily represent that of the Somali people since his term of office has officially ended on 12 August, 2003.

1. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed - President of Puntland

2. Hasan Abshir Farah - Prime Minister (TNG)

3. Abdalla Deerow ***** - Chairman (TNA)

4. Mahamed Omar Habeeb - Regional Administration Jowhar

5. Hussein Mohamed Aideed - SNA/SRRC

6. Hassan Mohamed Nur - RRA/SRRC

7. Sheikh Adan Madoobe - RRA/SRRC

8. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail - SSNM/Biram

9. Abdulaziz Sheikh Yusuf - SSNM/SRRC

10. Hilowle Imam Omar - SRRC Chairman

11. Hasan Abdulle Qalaad - Hiran Administration

12. Moulid Ma’aane - SAMO/ASAL

13. Mohamed Qanyare Afrah - USC

14. Mohamud Sayid Adan - SNF/SRRC

15. Mohamed Adan Wayeel - SPM Chairman

16. Mohamed Ismaan Maye - SANU

17. Sharif Saalah - Civil Society

18. Mohamed Said Hersi (Morgan) - SRRC/SPM

19. Ahmed Nur Mohamed (Laxos) - SPM/SRRC

20. Mohamed Diriye Elmi (Deputy) - USC/SNA

21. Col. Deeq Abbi Hassan - GV Secretary General

22. Abdulkadir Abdi Hasan Bebe - USC/SSA

23. Omar Mohamed Mohamud - USC/SSA

24. Abdirazak **** Bihi - SNF

[Jaylaani]

What the **** ....how many of them are there?

[N.O.R.F]

To advise the few individuals who opposed this historic achievement not to be given the opportunity to derail the talks, which the Somali people fully support.

 

looool, nuff said!

[BN]

Somalia's effort to create new government and end chaos enter final stage at Kenya talks

 

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept. 16 — Delegates at talks meant to end more than a decade of violence and chaos in Somalia adopted a transitional charter that outlines a future government for the troubled African nation.

 

The negotiations had been stalled for weeks because of disputes over what type of federal administration is best for Somalia, which has not had an effective central government since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

Late Monday, the more than 360 Somalis — tribal leaders, delegates of rights groups, and faction representatives — adopted the charter at the talks in Nairobi, agreeing that their new system will include district, regional and state administrations.

Kenyan diplomat Bethuel Kiplagat, the chief mediator, hailed the adoption of the charter as a ''major breakthrough.''

Somalia now has one week to select members for a 351-seat transitional parliament, based on the country's complex clan system. Legislators will then elect a speaker and president, who will name a prime minister.

It is unclear how long that process will take, and at least four faction leaders did not take part in the process that led to the adoption of the charter, a Western diplomat involved in the talks said.

Somalia descended into chaos after the faction leaders who ousted Barre turned on each other, reducing the country to a patchwork of fiefdoms ruled by heavily armed clan-based factions.

A transitional government was elected at a peace conference in neighboring Djibouti in August 2000. But it has little influence outside Mogadishu, the capital, because many faction leaders did not take part in that peace process. It has also been unable to disarm the thousands of clan-based gunmen and bandits who roam the country.

 

Kiplagat said the international community will be asked to provide a peacekeeping force after the new government is formed.

 

The country has been largely ignored following the pullout of U.S. and U.N. forces in 1995, when a humanitarian mission ended with Somali fighters killing dozens of U.N. and U.S. troops.

 

http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/ap09-16-091846.asp?reg=AFRICA

[BN]

Somalia Hopes for Peace After Decades of War

 

 

The Nation (Nairobi)

 

September 17, 2003

Posted to the web September 17, 2003

 

Nairobi

 

Somalia stands out in the Horn of Africa as a country that has been prisoner to its history. After many troubled years, which saw the assassination in October 1969 of Mr Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, General Siad Barre took over.

 

Barre ruled Somalia with unprecedented brutality. He often responded to dissent by executing his opponents.

 

 

In 1981 as opposition to his regime began to emerge, Barre ordered the aerial bombardment of Hargeisa, the country's second capital, and the flattening of Burao city. Both harboured rebel movements and were situated in the north.

 

In December 1990, Barre's opponents launched offensive against government positions and drove him out of Somalia. He sought refuge in Kenya but was rejected. Barre died in exile in Nigeria shortly afterwards.

 

The faction that took over Mogadishu appointed a prominent trader, Mr Ali Mahdi Mohammed interim president. This was done without consulting the other factions that had helped in the struggle against Barre. Observers see that unilateral move as the catalyst for what happened next.

 

The different factions, which were based on the different warring clans, had been slighted and sidelined and their reaction was to fight to regain what they saw as their rightful positions. This fighting unfolded into a vicious civil war that overwhelmed the Horn of Africa country.

 

Militias unleashed nationwide terror and there was an orgy of killings and destruction in Mogadishu. In May 1991, the Somali National Movement in the north declared the independence of Somaliland. In the rest of the country, however, vicious power struggles turned the country into a living hell.

 

Mr Barre: 1969 - 1990

 

It has been more than 12 years since the fall of the Siad Barre regime, and the subsequent division and collapse of what once was known as the United Republic of Somalia. Twelve years in which there has been no central government and Somalia remains a volatile country.

 

However, not the whole country is a disaster. In the northwest (Somaliland) and the northeast (Puntland) a modicum of law and order and relative peace have been restored despite a lack of international recognition for their efforts.

 

Somaliland practises constitutional politics with some form of formal economic activity. An increasing number of children is also returning to school.

 

The Somaliland leadership has so far refused to participate in the peace and reconciliation talks in Nairobi.

 

The northeast region, or Puntland, though fairly independent of the southern region, continues to reaffirm its commitment to what it refers to as national unity. Mr Abdullahi Yusuf, who leads the faction that controls this region, is participating in the peace talks in Nairobi.

 

Puntland has set up structures to re-invigorate trade and establish basic social institutions. Nevertheless, jostling for executive and exclusive powers by several faction leaders is threatening the relative stability in the region. Differences between the Puntland leader, Mr Abdullahi Yusuf and his deputy, Mr Abdi Hashi, were reported last month. The two leaders were feuding over a cabinet reshuffle in the semi-autonomous region.

 

Therefore, apart from the relatively stable northwest and northeast regions, the rest of Somalia remains in the grip of vicious clan battles. Their hatred and mistrust of each other is as abundant as the guns in their possession.

 

The warlords and merchants control what economic activity there is, especially in the capital Mogadishu like the airports, and levy taxes. They have also erected toll stations in areas under their control.

 

Since the fall of Barre in 1991, there have been 14 attempts at restoring peace and a central authority in Mogadishu. During 13 of the 14 reconciliation conferences (the 14th round of peace talks is currently under way in Nairobi) it was impossible to reach a consensus because all the self-appointed Somali political leaders were adamant on their claims to the presidency.

 

In 1999, Djibouti president Ismail Omar Geleh announced at the UN General Assembly that he would convene a gathering of Somali leaders in an effort to rebuild Somalia. As a result, in March 2000, some 5,000 delegates convened in Djibouti.

 

After weeks of talking, arguing and horse-trading, 245 members of a Transitional National Assembly and an interim president were picked.

 

Interim president Abdiqassim Salat Hassan and his team had barely arrived in Mogadishu when the whole set-up began to unravel. The warlords immediately began to undermine the transitional government, claiming to have been left out of the government's selection.

 

It was also felt that many of Abdiqassim's appointees to the cabinet were incompetent.

 

The transitional government controls only a small portion of the capital, the rest of Mogadishu is split between five warlords: Musa Sude of the Abgal sub-clan, Hussein Aideed and Osman Atto both of the ********** sub-clan, Mohammed Quanyare of the Murursada sub-clan and Omar Mahmud alias Omar 'Finish' an Abgal. All three sub-clans are part of the larger ****** clan. (There are five main clans in Somalia.)

 

The peace and reconciliation conference in Nairobi is expected to pick a president from a crowded field of more than 50 candidates.

 

The will also elect members of a transitional assembly once the controversial transitional charter is approved.

 

In July, President Abdiqassim walked out of the peace talks accusing the Kenyan mediator, Mr Bethuel Kiplagat, of allegedly promoting an Ethiopian-backed plan to divide Somalia. Critics have accused the moderators in the Nairobi talks of concentrating more on power sharing than reconciling the various factions.

 

In the meantime, Somalia is weighed down by the image of a "terrorist haven" and was in fact a prime target of the Bush Administration after the September 11, 2001, attacks in the US.

 

However, analysts think that although the Somali profess the Islamic faith and parts of the country apply Sharia law, in the end it is clan allegiance which holds sway not religious fundamentalism.

 

Clan loyalties are so deep-rooted they define all aspects of life in Somalia. A faction leader, Mr Omar Mahmud summed up the problem thus, "whoever became president gave arms to his clan and his clan used the arms to dominate the other clans. Every clan is armed. We are all tired of fighting, and are willing to put all our weapons aside."

 

Despite growing fatigue by the international community there is hope in the Somali Diaspora that this time round, the international community will be able to save Somalia from itself. However, without an effective and voluntary disarmament of the various militias, a government picked in Nairobi would find it impossible to restore law and order.

 

 

http://allafrica.com/stories/200309170147.html

[BN]

Somali groups adopt charter to end decade of anarchy

 

 

September 17, 2003

 

Nairobi: Peace talks intended to end more than a decade of violence and chaos in Somalia entered their final stage yesterday after delegates adopted a transitional charter, mediators said.

 

The negotiations had been stalled for weeks because of disputes over what type of federal government best suited the troubled Horn of Africa nation, which has not had an effective central government since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

 

But late on Monday, the more than 360 Somalis attending the talks in Nairobi adopted the charter, agreeing that the system will include district, regional and state administrations.

 

Kenyan diplomat Bethuel Kiplagat, the talk's chief mediator, hailed the adoption of the charter as a "major breakthrough".

 

Somali faction leaders and traditional leaders now have one week to select members for a 351-seat transitional parliament, based on the country's complex clan system.

 

It is unclear how long that process will take, and at least four faction leaders did not take part in the process that led to the adoption of the charter, a Western diplomat involved in the talks said.

 

The diplomat, who did not want to be further identified, said that while the talks were progressing, there were still difficulties in ensuring that representatives from all Somalia's numerous clan-based factions take part in the transitional administration.

 

 

Somalia descended into chaos after the faction leaders who ousted Siad Barre turned on each other, reducing the country to a patchwork of fiefdoms ruled by heavily armed clan-based factions.

 

A transitional government was elected at a peace conference in neighbouring Djibouti in August 2000. But it has little influence outside Mogadishu, the capital, because many faction leaders did not take part in that peace process. It has also been unable to disarm the thousands of clan-based gunmen and outright bandits who roam the country.

 

Kiplagat said in a statement yesterday that the international community "will be called upon to provide a peacekeeping force after the government is formed".

 

The country has been ignored following the pullout of US and UN forces in 1995, after a humanitarian mission - whose mandate became increasingly aggressive and political - ended when Somali fighters killed dozens of UN and US troops. Interest in the country has heightened since US officials cited the Muslim nation as a possible terrorist haven. - Sapa-AP

 

 

The Cape Times

[BN]

Somali factions agree transitional constitution

 

NAIROBI, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Warring factions at Somalia's 14th peace conference in a decade agreed a transitional constitution on Monday intended to steer the ruined Horn of Africa country to stability, Kenyan mediators said.

 

Delegates hugged and kissed and danced to patriotic songs at the venue of the 11-month-old talks near Nairobi when the agreement on a federal structure for the clan-based society of 10 million was announced, witnesses said.

 

Mediators said the accord was a major advance towards peace and opened the way to the power-sharing phase of talks in which clan elders and militia chiefs are due to haggle over seats in a parliament and jobs in a transitional government.

 

The 40-page document sets a four-year term for the transitional government to shepherd the country to elections.

 

The charter leaves vague the questions of how Somalia would incorporate the autonomous northern regions of Puntland and Somaliland, demobilise militia forces and restore the economy.

 

Somalia has been torn by war since the overthrow of military ruler Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991 and since then conflict and famine have killed hundred of thousands of people.

 

An Arab-backed Transitional National Government (TNG) was set up in 2000 to try to restore some stability to Somalia but it controlled only parts of the capital and tiny pockets in the rest of the country before its mandate ran out last month.

 

TNG president Abdiqassim Salad Hassan stormed out of the talks in July complaining that delegates were plotting to divide Somalia. He returned to Kenya on Sunday but was not present when the delegates agreed the charter and has not commented on it.

 

Abdiqassim has said he feared the charter could encourage Somalia's break-up on federal lines and marginalise Islam and the Arabic language.

 

Reuters

[General Duke]

Thanks for the update Horn & Bari, I think this time something good will come out insha Allah.

[AYOUB]

On behalf of the Somali delegates attending the Somali National Reconciliation Conference and as representatives of the Somali people at large

Calling them lot 'political leaders' is stretching it, but 'representatives of Somali people at large'?

3. Finally, we would like to point out to the international community that the statements made by Mr. Abdiqassim were made in his personal capacity and do not necessarily represent that of the Somali people since his term of office has officially ended on 12 August, 2003.

1. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed - President of Puntland

2. Hasan Abshir Farah - Prime Minister (TNG)

If Mr Abdiqassim's term has officially ended, why is Hassan Abshir at number 2 on the list as Prime Minister(TNG)? :confused:

[General Duke]

Ayoub Shiekh you still nervous about the meeting well dont worry it will soon end with a recognised government.

 

As for your points

1) THESE GROUPS HOLD ALLOT OF THE POWER ON THE GROUND THEY ARE AS LEGITAMATE AS Colonel Dahir and EGAL ever was.

 

2) Everyone signed on as they came to the conference & XASAN ABSHIR was the PM of the now dead TNG, no biggy.

 

However I have to give it to you scrutinising every line looking for a weak point. LOL