May 4, 2000
To: The UN Secretary General
Cc: The Security Council;
The Secretary General of IGAD;
IGAD Heads of State;
The Secretary General of League of Arab States;
The Secretary General of the Islamic Conference;
The Commissioner of the European Union;
The President of the Republic of Djibouti
Subject: THE DJIBOUTI -SOMALI PEACE INITIATIVE
Honorable Anan,
Honorable Anan,We are writing to you with regard to the Djibouti Somali peace initiative conference, which is currently taking place in the Republic of Djibouti. While we know that the issue of former Somalia has been an international dilemma for the past ten years, the people of Somaliland are supportive of any efforts brought forward by concerned parties in trying to find a resolution for our neighbours in the former Italian -Somalia.
The Somaliland Forum believes that the main reason why there is international support for this particular peace initiative, sponsored by Mr. Ismail Omar Gulleh, the President of the Republic of Djibouti; is because of its original primary intent, which was, to reconcile warring parties and restore a lasting peace in Somalia.
Unfortunately, the initiative has been diverted from its original course. Its principal aim has now become that of resurrecting the failed structures of the defunct Somalia regime for the benefit of a few certain opposition groups in the Diaspora who have taken the lead in this initiative under the guise of ‘intellectuals’, and ‘civic society representatives’.
Neither the restoration of peace nor, resolution of conflict, which must come first, are featured in it in any meaningful way at this time. For example, the initiative ignores the de facto state of Somaliland, which has proved to be a successful model of hope for its people, and symbolises political stability in this troubled region of the world. The civil society of Somaliland has managed to create peace amongst its people by using both modern and traditional social mechanisms.
It is this unique peace-making process, which led to the political stability in Somaliland, that the Djibouti government is ignoring. One may wonder if Djibouti perceives that a stable independent Somaliland poses an economic danger to it. Whatever its regional perceptions are, if the Djibouti regime is sincere about finding a lasting peace for the region and a political settlement for the crisis in Somalia, it must realise that two independent states went into the making of the former Somali Republic, or Somalia as it came popularly to be known, and two states - one stable and governed (Somaliland), and the other unstable and without a central government - had emerged out it.
Now the people of Somaliland want to make their case clear to the international community. Despite a decade of the liberation war (1981-1991) and a genocidal campaign waged against them by the regime of Mogadishu, which inflicted untold death, and destruction upon them, the people of Somaliland re-gained their independence. After a period of civic society consultation, Somaliland’s statehood was strongly re-assured. It then behooves the international community to honour the will and determination of this nation that overcame genocide, displacement, war and all its destruction. And yet, the international community continues to neglect the collective aspirations of the people of Somaliland by denying them international recognition. Notwithstanding all these obstacles, Somaliland has been blessed with a spirited civil society that works for peace and continues to advance. This civil society’s success should not be ignored nor scorned, but its accomplishments can serve as a model for future reconciliation and peace making in Somalia proper.
Therefore, we are requesting from the UN member nations, especially IGAD members, to re-orient the focus of President Guelle’s initiative and intentions into a direction that would bring peace, stability and governance where it is needed – that is in Somalia, not Somaliland. The international community must also speak out against Djibouti government’s overt attack against the people of Somaliland and their achievements. President Guelle’s regime is determined to deny the political rights of over three million people, who simply want for themselves the same right of sovereignty that the less than the half-a-million Djiboutians enjoy.
These latest assaults are only adding to the already existing tensions, and they would have dire consequences for the Horn of Africa at large, the neighbouring states of Djibouti and Somaliland in particular. Moreover, the people of Somaliland and its government have already rejected this initiative. They rejected it, because it is dismissive of their rights and achievements. Furthermore, it does not recognise Somaliland’s independence, and, in fact, the Djibouti regime is, in so many ways, waging war against Somaliland, including economic strangulation.
The formation of a government for Somalia in Djibouti without a resolution of conflict, restoration of peace and trust between the warring factions of Somalia, and the recognition of Somaliland, before hand, is to place the cart before the horse. What Somalia needs is peace between its communities, only then can a government that is truly representative be formed. May we also respectfully remind you that the first government formed in exile for Somalia was formed in the same Republic of Djibouti in 1991, and it immediately brought in its wake the continuing war and mistrust in Somalia. Another Somalia government formed in Djibouti will, undoubtedly, lead to further wars, displacement of innocent people, a new wave of refugees and a deeper division between the communities of Somalia.
We welcome any sincere initiative meant to build confidence, heal wounds, facilitate reconciliation, and acknowledge the existence of Somaliland. To that end, the government of Somaliland, with the support of its own people, has gone as far as even initiating its own conference to reconcile the people of Somalia. But we reject the attempt to create another “made-in-Djibouti” government for Somalia that would add to the suffering of the people of Somalia. Thus, we urge you not to support this initiative, in its present format.