HORN-WATCH

Indorsed by more than 180 civil society and advocates for social justice and human rights groups in Somalia/Somaliland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 1^st, 2013

URGENT APPEAL: Call FCO to keep flow of the Somali remittances flowing from Britain

To: H.E. David Camaroon

UK Prime Minister

To: Mr Mark Simmonds MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Africa

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

King Charles Street

London SW1A 2AH

To: Mr Neil Wigan

UK Ambassador to Somali

Dear Prime Minister,

We, the undersigned, the pro-democratic movements including advocates for social justice and human rights groups in Somaliland/Somalia, wish to express our deep concerns to the recent decision of British Bank of Barclays to close its accounts with Somali Money Service Businesses (MSBs). Some have already been closed, and the account of ‘Dahabshiil’ the largest MSB providing services to Somalia, by far, is to be closed soon.

At least 10 million Somalis – many in need of urgent lifesaving assistance – face a potential cut-off of aid from abroad from family members as the UK bank plans to close money-wiring services next month. The key issue is the damage to flow of cash to the vulnerable Somali people, who depend on remittances for their livelihood; and the likely dire consequences the move shall have on Somalis and Somalia, where no alternatives to the money service businesses exist.

The Somali/Somaliland civil society groups, Human Rights Defenders and Pro-democracy Movements’ strongly believe that the Barclays bank service is a major lifeline for Somalis and is the only one offering this service. UK based Somali Diaspora face being left without any means to help their families survive through the current humanitarian crisis.

We, the Somali/Somaliland civil society groups, Human Rights Defenders and Pro-democracy Movements’ are highly praised the leading role taken by UK government to help rebuild Somalia, on the other hand, we are seriously worried, that without the services of these money transfer organizations, Somalis living in the diaspora throughout the UK and Europe will not be able to send desperately needed support home to their relatives. This will have immediate and severe humanitarian implications and the Barclays’ decision to cease its financial wiring services with MBS to Somalia will only encourage people to send funds through illegal, unsafe, and untraceable channels, thereby potentially making the problem of support to proscribed parties much more serious, and more worse it may have negative impact to efforts provided by the world community for stabilizing and development of the country.

We are joining the appeal sent to UK Government and Barclays leaders by the President of Federal Government of Somali H. E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, who said “Some of the world’s poorest people depend on remittances sent to them from the Somali diaspora. At the end of the vast majority of cash transfers supported by Barclays Bank, are families and children whose struggle through each day is unimaginable to most. We need time and support from the UK Government to resolve this issue, or the sad reality is that an “regrettable inconvenience” could directly result in human tragedy.”

We are argue the Somali Community in UK to come together and work with the elected officials and Barclays bank authorities to resolve this matter effectively. Remittance businesses are the financial lifelines for millions of Somalis struggling to cope with the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in 60 years and decades of civil conflict. An estimated $2 Billion Dollars—one third of the annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Somalia and more than the annual donor contributions is channeled to Somalia through remittances by Somalis in the Diaspora to support their relatives back home. Closing remittances will alienate and marginalize Somalis in the Diaspora and their needy families inside and outside Somalia.

We humbly – and most sincerely - request the UK Government to keep Somali remittances flowing from UK, which is home to a large population of Somali migrants..

CC:

Nicholas Kay, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia,
Mr David Lewis, Head of Anti-Money-Laundering and Terrorist Finance Policy and Sanctions and Illicit Finance, HM Treasury
Mr Daniel Fearn, Head of Somalia Unit, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Ms Claire Innes, Private Sector Development Team, DFID
Mr Antony Jenkins, Group Chief Executive, Barclays plc
Ms Catharine French, Chief of Staff, Barclays plc
Hectors Sants, Head of Compliance, Barclays plc

Yours sincerely

This petition was indorsed by following civil society and human rights organizations groups operating in Somalia/Somaliland, civil society and human rights groups.

(The 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.	Jamhuuriya 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 Salvation and Training Organization - SYSTO
151.	Somaliland Youth Society - SYS
152.	Somaliland Youth Voluntary Association - SOYVO
153.	Teacher Training College Student - TTCSC
154.	Somaliland Universities Student Union - SUSU
155.	Vitinary Agre-culture Development Committee - VADCO
156.	Voluntary of National Youth Organization - VONYO
157.	Youth Coalition Development - YCD
158.	Youth Volunteers of Development and Environmental Care
159.	Organization – YOVENCO
160.	Somaliland Education Development Organziation - SEDO
161.	Youth Edcuation Saftey Development Organizaiton - YESDO
162.	UBAH Social Development Youth Organization - USWO
163.	Somaliland Environment Youth Organization – SEYO
SOMALILAND NATIONAL DISABILITY FORUM MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
164.	Somaliland Handicap Association (SHA)
165.	Nasa-Hablod Handicap Association (NAHA)
166.	Youth Development Association (HADYA)
167.	Hargeisa Deaf School (HDS)
168.	Activist Network for Disabled Persons (ANDP)
169.	Orthohope Rehabilitation Center (ORC)
170.	Disability Action Network (DAN)
171.	School For Special Needs (HSSN)
172.	Horn Afrique Youth Voluntary Committee (HAVOYOCO)
173.	Disabled Children Association (DCA)
174.	Handicap Association (HHA)
175.	Tawakal Women’s Association (TWO)
176.	Albustan Handicap Association (AHA)
177.	Handicap Women (HHW)
178.	Somaliland Blind Society (HABS)
179.	Youth Development Disability Organization (YODDO)
180.	Somaliland Red Crescent Society (SRCS)
181.	Borama Deaf and Blind School (BD&BS)
182.	Sahil Handicap Organization (SHO)
183.	Tawakal Lifeline Organization (TLO)
184.	Erigavo Handicap Organization (EHO)
185.	Las-anod Handicap Association (LHA)

For more information, contact:

Suleiman Bolaleh, Seniour Human Rights Researcher
(252) 06 4429552(mobile)
xuquuq@gmail.com, sbolaleh@yahoo.com

PRESS RELEASE

European Union Brussels, 26 June 2013

A 355/13

The EU and Somalia announce

"The 5ew Deal for Somalia Conference"

16th September 2013

The Federal Government of Somalia and The European Union (EU) are to co-host "The New Deal For Somalia Conference" in Brussels on 16 September 2013. The international conference will endorse the "New Deal Compact" that will commit the Somali people and their international partners to a set of key priorities and new support for the reconstruction of Somalia over the next 3 years. The Conference is set to build on the momentum of progress and change in Somalia, supported by the recent international conferences on the country.

High Representative Vice President Catherine Ashton said: "The situation in Somalia has been transformed over the past year. There is now a real atmosphere of activity, emerging governance and hope. It is therefore more important than ever that the international community makes good on its promises of support for the Somali people. This joint event, co-hosted by Somalia and the EU, will establish the "New Deal Compact" as the foundation of theinternational community and Somalia's mutual commitment to a three year plan that can deliver peace, security and development to all Somali people."

President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said: "On 16^th September, Baroness Ashton and I will convene the New Deal for Somalia Conference in Brussels, and present to the international community our the key political, security and developmental priorities for Somalia guided by the New Deal principles for fragile states agreed in Busan in 2011. All Somalis must seize this opportunity to galvanise international support to aid our recovery. We have this one chance to ensure that over the next three years we build on the momentum of progress and remove any threat of a return to anarchy and conflict. I hope the world will attend to pledge their support to secure this fast emerging success story.

The "New Deal Compact" to be endorsed by Somalia and the international community in Brussels in September is a milestone in the ”New Deal for fragile states” framework which commits national and international partners to jointly deliver on the most critical political, security and socioeconomic priorities. The New Deal also includes a new financial architecture for Somalia based on mutual accountability and partnership. This New Deal process was launched on May 14th, 2013 by the Somali Prime Minister and is led by the New Deal Task Force, composed of the Federal Government, Parliament, the EU (representing the donors) and Somali civil society, together with a broad range of stakeholders.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:

Michael Mann +32 498 999 780 - +32 2 299 97 80 - Michael.Mann@eeas.europa.eu

Maja Kocijancic +32 498 984 425 - +32 2 298 65 70 - Maja.Kocijancic@ec.europa.eu

Sebastien Brabant +32 460 75 09 98 - Sebastien.Brabant@ec.europa.eu

Eamonn Prendergast +32 460 753 293 - +32 2 299 88 51 - Eamonn.Prendergast@ec.europa.eu

COMM-SPP-HRVP-ASHTO5@ec.europa.eu

www.eeas.europa.eu

Monday, July 1, 2013

URGENT APPEAL: call UK Gov. To keep flow of the Somali remittances flowing from Britain

Sunday, June 30, 2013

The EU and Somalia announce "The 5ew Deal for Somalia Conference" 16th September 2013

Beesha Habar Gidir oo hanjabaado culus u jeedisay Dowladda Soomaaliya