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 its independence from her
Majesty Government of Great Britain on the 26 June, 1960. It has immediately
received recognition from 34 Countries, that it in a historical context is an
enough official testimony of the existence of the country, which had
independent sovereignty but joined Somalia to expand the pan Somali dream.
The union between the 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 prosperous. 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 enrollment at primary school level is more than 90 % while the country has one of the best health clinics in East Africa region. More than 60 % of the urban population gets clean piped water. Other institutions include the 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 challenges 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 a terrorist group of Al Shabaab are still appealing 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 Yemen.
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 importantly 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 ongoing 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 fight against global terrorism, global illegal
narcotics smuggling, and global illegal smuggling of women who fall victims to
international prostitution rings.
OUR CALLS:
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 a war torn country of Somalia. Somaliland has 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 the 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 welcome the construction of Africa's
largest hydroelectric dam in Ethiopian. We strongly believe that the
"Grand Renaissance Dam" would contribute effectively the struggle towards
the eradication of poverty and hunger not only in Ethiopia or in horn of
African region but an overall African continent. Somaliland citizens are proud to
provide a significant financial contribution to the construction of the
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 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
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SOMALILAND IMPARTIAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS
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1.
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Horn of Africa Human Rights Watch Committee
(HORNWATCH)
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|
|
2.
|
Activist Network for Disabled Persons (ANDP)
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|
|
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)
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|
|
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)
|
|
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SOMALILAND UNIVERSITIES
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||
|
19.
|
University of Hargeisa
|
|
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20.
|
Amoud University
|
|
|
21.
|
Berbera Marine University
|
|
|
22.
|
University of Burao
|
|
|
23.
|
University of Erigavo
|
|
|
24.
|
Golis University
|
|
|
25.
|
Admas University
|
|
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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
|
|
