PETITION: FURTHERING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY’S SUPPORT FOR THE REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND AND HELP IT GET INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

From:            

Somaliland pro-democratic movements, human rights and civil society groups together with National Human Rights Commission

To:                 

­   H. E. Secretary-General of the United Nations and its Member Nations

­   H. E. Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the African Union

­   Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union and its Member States

­   H. E. Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament

­   European Parliament Committee on Foreign Relations

­   H. E. Pope Francis PP, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City

­   Ethiopian Prime Minister

­   H. E. Barack Obama, United States President

­   United States Secretary of State

­   United States Secretary of Defense

­   United States National Security Council

­   United States Senate International Relations Committee

­   H. E. David Cameroon, UK Prime Minister

­   Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Turkey Prime Minister 

­   United Arab Emirates

­   Australian Government

­   Canadian Government

­   Chinese Government

­   French Government

­   Russian Government

­   Somaliland President

 

SUBJECT:    FURTHERING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY’S SUPPORT FOR THE REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND AND HELP IT GET INTERNATIONAL REORGANIZATION

On the Occasion of Somaliland’s 22nd Anniversary of Independence. We, the undersigned, the pro-democratic movement in Somaliland, comprising state and non-state actors, including Somaliland human rights Commission, professional groups, university students, human rights and civil society organizations, victims and survivors of human rights violations perpetrated by dictator military government of Siad Barre operating under several non-governmental national level umbrellas and networks wish to express our concerns towards our county’s 22 years international diplomatic isolations and its impact of our people’s basic human rights and fundamental freedoms. Once again we would like to remind the world respective leaders the contributions and opportunities that our countries have to the world.

Historical background

When Somaliland gained it's independence from her Majesty Government of Great Britain on the 26 June, 1960. It has immediately received recognition from 34 Countries, that itself in a historical context is an enough official testimony of the existence of country, which had independent sovereignty but joined Somalia to expand the pan Somali dream.

The union between Somaliland British Protectorate and Italian Somalia was never ratified by their respective Parliaments, and their 31 year-old union remained an informal partnership with no legal binding. Consequently, the initially hopeful union of the two young countries ended in disaster and culminated in a brutal ten-year civil war between Somalia and Somaliland until they separated in 1991.

During the civil war, brutal acts of genocide and war crimes were perpetrated against the people of Somaliland. Government airplanes indiscriminately bombed our major cities while tanks and other heavy military artillery pounded civilian dwellings, flattening schools, hospitals, mosques, and 90% of our cities. Tens of thousands of our people were massacred, and over a million driven from their homes sought refuge in refugee camps in neighboring countries.

The Petition:

Our Government of the Republic of Somaliland has made every effort to create an atmosphere in which a different clan society including the minority communities can develop and prospers. Somaliland serves, and will continue to serve, as an ideal developmental and democratic model in Africa and of course in the Muslim world. The country has worked to resolve the heavy challenges of establishing functioning grass root democratic institutions despite the many socio-economic problems it has faced since its statehood reclamation in 1991.

Our country’s school enrolment at primary school level is more than 90 % while the country has one of the best health cliniques in East Africa region. More than 60 % of the urban population gets clean piped water. Other institutions include civil service, customs, telecommunications, banks and full functioned security system. Somaliland has its own currency and passports. But on the other hand we are aware many challenge are ahead of Somaliland, the most pressing challenges including lack of international diplomatic relation, and unable to link with world economic actors include the World Bank and IMF. Other serious crises include the violent and extremist ways of terrorist group of Al Shabaab are still appeal to many young Somalilanders, owing the alarming unemployment rate among country’s youth.

The Somaliland government has paid a huge effort to counter the spread of un-Islamic, antidemocratic ideologies spread by pro-Islamic fundamentalist groups among our young generation and women, and to address this our government has developed a heavy budgeted free compulsory primary education program throughout the country.

The Democratic Somaliland Government has independent external security and commerce relations with other states including the neighboring countries including Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yamen. It has agreements of cooperation with some of the EU and the AU (African Union) countries, with UN agencies and international NGOs which have strong presences in Hargeisa, the Capital. It has business agreements and investment contracts with foreign companies including Coca Cola and numerous Gas and Petroleum Exploration Companies. It has representations in a number of foreign countries to liaise with other governments and organizations.

It is in the best interest of Africa and the world to do everything possible so as to insure security, peace, vigorous economic growth, and continued progress toward democratization of Somaliland, with the goal of ensuring a more stable horn of African region. We urge the United Nation, the African Union and most important the IGAD to provide full assistance to Somaliland in its stabilization efforts towards becoming a Member State of.

In cooperating with UK, US and its military arm of Africa AFRICOM, Somaliland played a key role in preventing the spread of the Somalia crisis. We call our Somaliland government to partake AMISOM Peace Keeping program in Somalia both a financial and/or manpower means. We support our government’s on-going efforts for Somaliland admission into the regional level organization including IGAD and AU as an observatory member state.

When a country has not recognized its independence is isolated and marginalized in the world. In the end who suffers is the population not having their basic human rights recognized by the international community.

An internationally recognized the republic of Somaliland furthers the stability of the horn of African region and the world as well; specifically, the fighting against global terrorism, global illegal narcotics smuggling, and global illegal smuggling of women who fall victims to international prostitution rings.

OUR CALLS:

To this end, the Somaliland pro-democratic movements, human rights and civil society groups would like to make it known to the International Community that we will no longer tolerate to deal Somaliland as a part of war torn country of Somalia. Somaliland have its own country identity, national flag, national symbols, and national anthem as well, together with African Union recognized colonial territorial borders.

We would like to highlight to UN, AU, IGAD, EU and all their member states that during the Somalia transition process, the Somaliland government provided support as an interested neighbor, not as an internal actor. Somaliland were not a signatory to either the Somalia End of Transition Roadmap nor the subsequent Garowe I and II principles documents that ratified Somalia's provisional constitution and established the selection processes for its current government.

Somaliland pro-democratic and civil society groups are joining the leaders of world fifty-four countries and partners of Somalia who participated the Somalia Conference took place at Lancaster House on 7 May 2013, co-hosted by the UK and Somalia, for their welcomes the dialogue between the Federal Government and Somaliland Government at Ankara in April 2013 to clarify their future relationship, building on the meeting at Chevening in June 2012, and welcomed the Ankara communiqué. We expressed our appreciation for the facilitating role played by Turkey.

Somaliland pro-democratic movements are healthfully welcomes the construction of Africa's largest hydro-electric dam in Ethiopian. We strongly believe that the "Grand Renaissance Dam" would contribute effectively the struggle eradication of poverty and hunger not only in Ethiopia or horn of African region but overall African continent. Somaliland citizens are proud their government’s financial contribution it has made the construction of Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam.

We urge the International Community to continue its support the ongoing dialogue between the Somaliland and Somalia Federal Gove

We urge the United States and other major industrialized nations of the world, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other political and economic groups to provide economic assistance to Somaliland, thereby helping the country deal with the current internal and external imbalance.

Furthermore, we demand from the government of Somaliland to provide access to capital resources for investment in Somaliland, as well to establish reforms and incentives that would increase trade and investment by supporting private companies, business experts, and economic development specialists.

We welcome the involvement of the UN and its member states in facilitating and creating a favorable environment for the discussions between Somaliland Government and the Somali Federal Government.

Last but not the least, We condemn the UN decision of handing over the Somaliland's airspace control to the Mogadishu government and any other steps that may take the UN and its proxies organization which can undermine our county’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and our fundamental self determination rights.  

SIGNATORIES LIST

SOMALILAND IMPARTIAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS
1.	Horn of Africa Human Rights Watch Committee (HORNWATCH)
2.	Activist Network for Disabled Persons (ANDP)
3.	Ubah Social Welfare Organization (USWO)
4.	Disable Children Association (DCA)
5.	Somaliland Youth Voluntary Organization (SOYVO
6.	Barako Women Organization (BARAKO)
7.	United Togdheer Women Umbrella  (UNITA)
8.	Togdheer Youth Voluntary Organization (TOGOYOVO)
9.	Naaso-Hablood Handicap Association (NAHA)
10.	Daami Youth Development Organization (DAYDO)
11.	Welfare Tumaal Organization (WAAB)
12.	Tumaal Development Foundation (TDF)
13.	Women Minority Organization (ISIR)
14.	Somaliland Culture and Sport Association (SOCSA)
15.	Somaliland Journalist Association (SOLJA)
16.	Community concern Somalis (CCS)
17.	Saaxil Handicap Organisation (SHO)
18.	Voluntary Youth Organization (VAYS)
SOMALILAND UNIVERSITIES
19.		University of Hargeisa
20.		Amoud University
21.		Berbera Marine University
22.		University of Burao
23.		University of Erigavo
24.		Golis University
25.		Admas University
MEMBER ORGANISATIONS OF NAGAAD WOMEN UMBRELLA
26.		Agriculture Development Organization (ADO)
27.		Alkownin Women Voluntary Organization (ALKOWNIN)
28.		Agriculture Rehabilitation and Women in Development (ARWO)
29.		Association for the Somaliland Women's Advancement (ASWA)
30.		Aw Barkhadle Women Development Organization (AWDO)
31.		Ayaan Women's Development Association (AYAAN)
32.		Barwaaqo Lakulan Women Association (BAKWA)
33.		Barwaqo Voluntary Organization (BVO)
34.		Candlelight for Health and Education (CLHE)
35.		Committee for Concerned Somalis (CCS)
36.		Dareen Rural Relief & Development (DAREEN)
37.		Dulmar for Women's Development Advocacy and Peace (DULMAR)
38.		Female-Headed Households Association (FEDHA)
39.		Hanad Women's Welfare Association (HWWA)
40.		Hargeisa Voluntary Youth Committee (HAVAYOCO)
41.		Hargeisa Women's Group (HAWO-GROUP)
42.		Hargeisa Women on Focus Organization (HAWFO)
43.		Mother Land Rescue Group (MRG)
44.		Lama-Huraan Women's Association (LMWA)
45.		Somaliland Women's organization (SOLWO)
46.		Somaliland War Widow Organization (SWWO)
47.		Somaliland Women's Development Association (SOWDA)
48.		Somaliland Women's Research and Action Group (SOWRAG)
49.		Somaliland for Progress, Advocacy and Peace (SOWPO)
50.		Somaliland Young Women's Association (SOYWA)
51.		Tawakal Women & Children's Organization (TAWAKAL)
52.		Voluntary National Youth Organization (VONYO)
53.		Women's Action for Advocacy and Development Association (WADA)
54.		Women's Rehabilitation and Development Association (WORDA)
55.		Women Inter-Action Group (WIAG)
56.		Women's Action Advocacy and Progress Organization (WAAPO)
SOMALILAND NATIONAL DISABILITY FORUM
57.	Somaliland Handicap Association (SHA)
58.	Nasa-Hablod Handicap Association (NAHA)
59.	Hargeisa Youth Development Association (HADYA)
60.	Hargeisa Deaf School (HDS)
61.	Activist Network for Disabled Persons (ANDP)
62.	Orthohope Rehabilitation Center (ORC)
63.	Disability Action Network (DAN)
64.	Hargeisa School For Special Needs (HSSN)
65.	Disabled Children Association (DCA)
66.	Hargeisa Handicap Association (HHA)
67.	Tawakal Women’s Association (TAWAKAL)
68.	Albustan Handicap Association (AHA)
69.	Hargeisa Handicap Women (HHW)
70.	Somaliland Blind Society (HABS)
71.	Youth Development Disability Organization (YODDO)
72.	Somaliland Red Crescent Society (SRCS)
73.	Borama Deaf and Blind School (BD&BS
74.	Sahil Handicap Organization (SHO)
75.	Tawakal Lifeline Organization (TLO)
76.	Erigavo Handicap Organization (EHO)
77.	Las-anod Handicap Association (LHA)
NON MUSLIM RELIGIOUS GROUPS IN SOMALILAND
78.	Somaliland Catholic Church
NAFIS NETWORK MEMBER ORGANIZATION
79.	Candlelight
80.	HAVAYOCO
81.	Alkownin
82.	WAIG
83.	WORDA
84.	BVO
85.	SOWRAG
86.	SONYO
87.	USWO
88.	SOHEADA
89.	HAN
90.	AYAN
91.	WAHEDO
92.	VOSOMWO
93.	WARSAN
94.	SOYONDA
SOMALILAND NON STATE ACTORS MEMBER ORGANISATION
CIVIL SOCIETY
95.	Nofen
96.	Muruq iyo Maskax
97.	Sungo
98.	Maan
99.	Somran
100.	Kulmis
101.	SNDF
102.	Sahan
103.	Nafis Network
104.	Vonyo
105.	Unita umbrella
106.	Sonyo
107.	CPN
108.	Nagaad
109.	Awdal CPN
ELDERS
110.	Horn Peace
PRIVATE SECTOR
111.	Jubba Airways
112.	Light Industry
113.	WIN
114.	Daallo Airline
115.	Nawbo
116.	BDS
117.	Hospitality Industry
118.	WIT
119.	NRD-EWB
120.	Dahabshiil
121.	Telesom
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
122.	Arecsmed
123.	University of Buroa
124.	Sanaag University
125.	SLNMA
126.	SMA
127.	Media Group
128.	UOH
129.	WIJA
130.	Fopag
131.	Solla
132.	Berbera University
133.	ULPA
134.	Nugaal University
ISLAM RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION
135.	Wanaag Farista
MEMBER ORGANISATIONS OF SOMALILAND NATIONAL YOUTH ORGANIZATION (SONYO-UMBRELLA)
136.	Aids Control and Awareness Raising Organization - (ACARO)
137.	Amoud University Student Union -
138.	All-Somaliland Society Awareness League -  (Assal)
139.	Community  Rehabilitation Association (CRA)
140.	Dallo Youth Development Organization  - DAYDO
141.	Disability Children Association - DCA
142.	Youth Development Association - HYDA
143.	Horseed Youth Association - Horseed
144.	Laas-anod Youth Voluntary Organization  - LAYVO
145.	Moonlight girls Association - Moonlight
146.	SAYS Youth Association - SAYS
147.	Somaliland Association for Youth Salvation - SCYVO
148.	Somaliland Culture and Sport Association - SOCSA
149.	Somaliland Progress Youth Association - SOPYA
150.	Somaliland Youth Development Association - SOYDA
151.	Somaliland Youth Salvation and Training Organization - SYSTO
152.	Somaliland Youth Society  - SYS
153.	Somaliland Youth Society - SYS Burao
154.	Somaliland Youth Voluntary Association - SOYVO
155.	Teacher Training College Student - TTCSC
156.	University of  Student Union
157.	UoH-Student Union
158.	Vitinary  Agre-culture Development Committee- VADCO
159.	Voluntary Of National Youth Organization - VONYO
160.	Youth Coalition Development - YCD
161.	Youth Volunteers of Development and Environmental Care
162.	Organization - YOVENCO
163.	Somaliland Education  Development Organziation - SEDO
164.	Youth Edcuation Saftey Development Organizaiton - YESDO
165.	UBAH Social Development Youth Organization - USWO
166.	Somaliland Environment Youth Organization – SEYO
SOMALILAND NATIONAL DISABILITY FORUM MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
167.	Somaliland Handicap Association SHA
168.	Comprehensive CBR in Somaliland CCBRS
169.	Nasa-Hablod Handicap AssociationNAHA
170.	Youth Development Association HADYA
171.	Deaf SchoolHDS
172.	Activist Network for Disabled Persons ANDP
173.	Orthohope Rehabilitation Center ORC
174.	Disability Action Network DAN
175.	School For Special Needs HSSN
176.	Horn Afrique Youth Voluntary Committee HAVOYOCO
177.	Disabled Children Association DCA
178.	Handicap Association HHA
179.	Tawakal Women’s Association TWO
180.	Albustan Handicap AssociationAHA
181.	Handicap Women HHW
182.	Somaliland Blind SocietyHABS
183.	Youth Development Disability Organization YODDO
184.	Somaliland Red Crescent Society SRCS
185.	Borama Deaf and Blind School BD&BS
186.	Sahil Handicap Organization SHO 24Tawakal Lifeline OrganizationTLO
187.	Erigavo Handicap Organization EHO
188.	Las-anod Handicap Association LHA