Somaliland Expatriates Outraged by the Assassination Attempt

The Somaliland Community in the UAE expresses outrage at aggression of the tribal enclave of Puntland on Somaliland.

The Somaliland Community in the UAE;

Responding to the naked aggression launched by the militia of the tribal enclave of Puntland on the territorial integrity of Somaliland on December 6, 2002;
Reminding the IGAD countries, the African Unity and the UN, the internationally recognized colonial borders of Somaliland before and at the time of its independence on June 26, 1960;
Drawing the attention of IGAD, the UN and the international community that claims of clans across national borders for unification of their homesteads on the basis of blood ties could be a dangerous precedent that could re-ignite the historical irredentism of the Somali people in the Horn of Africa;
Taking note of OAU and UN Charters, demanding all countries to maintain good neighborly relations and respect international conventions regarding non-interference of other countries’ internal affairs;
Expressing pride in the great achievements accomplished by the people of Somaliland over the last 11 years in establishing peace and stability and consolidating the rule of law;
Recalling the unanimous approval given by the people of Somaliland to the internationally-monitored referendum on the country’s constitution in which they expressed their unflinching desire to restore the pre-unification independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somaliland;
Taking note of the on-going municipal election campaign and upcoming presidential elections aimed at reinforcing Somaliland’s democratic transformation;
Appreciating the cohesiveness, co-operation and harmony that characterize the relations between the various sectors of Somaliland’s community;
Realizing the overall development achieved by Somaliland in the reconstruction of its towns, private and public properties and institutions that have been destroyed by the former military dictatorship, despite economic hardships resulting from the ban imposed on its livestock and lack of assistance from the outside world;
Believing in resolving differences among the Somaliland community by peaceful, legal, democratic means and within the framework of Somaliland’s constitution and legislative, executive, judicial and conventional institutions;

Would like to:

Express its outrage at the unprovoked aggression of Puntland’s tribal militia on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somaliland, its premeditated and professed attempt to assassinate Somaliland’s democratically elected President Dahir Rayale Kahin and his entourage in the Somaliland’s town of Las Anod, Sool Region, on Saturday December 6, 2002;
Assert its unequivocal condemnation of the naked interference of the Puntland tribal administration in the internal affairs of Somaliland without any provocation whatsoever on the part of the Somaliland government or people;
Affirm that such action was a violation of the sovereignty of Somaliland and a deliberate conspiracy aimed at disturbing the peace and stability enjoyed by Somaliland and dragging it into the chaos and lawlessness prevailing in the neighboring tribal enclave of Puntland;
Shoulder tribal militia commanders of Puntland of the consequences of their criminal act including the loss of life and destruction of people’s property;
Urge IGAD countries, the African Union, the UN and the international community to take note of the peace, stability and rule of law and order established by Somaliland as well as the democratic transformation taking place in the country, to play their role in recognizing the realities on the ground and prevent the tribal discord and chaos prevailing in neighboring Puntland from spilling into the peaceful oasis of Somaliland;
Remind IGAD and the UN that Somaliland’s patience towards the daily provocation and aggression of Puntland’s tribal militia on its territory and its people will not last forever and that Somaliland will be obliged to retaliate in kind to defend its land and people from Puntland’s marauding bandits;
Call upon the Somaliland government, opposition parties and all the sectors of the society to rally behind their leadership in safeguarding their hard won independence and to be vigilant against hidden hands trying to wreck havoc with the peace, stability and communal harmony enjoyed by the people over the last 11 years;
Call upon all Somalilanders in the Diaspora to make concerted and vigorous efforts to draw the attention of regional countries and the international community to the constitutional and democratic transformation taking place in Somaliland without any help from outside world.
Hail the bravery and heroism shown by the Presidential guard in protecting the President and his delegation from harm;
Commend the patriotic spirit shown by opposition parties and all people of Somaliland in defense of their motherland;

Finally, the Somaliland Community in the UAE congratulates the President for his safety and reiterates its full support for all decisions taken by the government and people of Somaliland in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Somaliland Community
The United Arab Emirates
Dec. 11, 2002

Home | Contact us | Links | Archives