Issue 211

London, UK, Jan 30, 2006 (SL Times) – Somaliland Forum joins the government of the Republic of Somaliland in denouncing the illegitimate and fallacious contract the Australian company, Range Resources Ltd, entered into with an overseas company, Consort Private Ltd on 10/18/2005, to buy 50.1 percent of the sole and exclusive rights to all mineral, oil exploration and development in the break away region of Puntland including Sanaag and Sool regions which are within the borders of Somaliland. The authorities in Puntland neither have jurisdiction nor the dispensation to carry out any exploration on Somaliland territory.

Puntland is the former region of Italian Somalia known as "Majertenia" and its borders with Somaliland are clearly delineated international boundaries. It is only in the last few years that the self-appointed leaders of this region started claiming parts of Eastern Somaliland on the pretext that some of the Somalilanders living in these areas may share clan lineage with them. This expansionist claim is totally contrary to African Union doctrines and international law.

The self appointed leaders of "Puntland", including the current appointed President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, Colonel Yusuf, have not only misrepresented to the world about their illegitimate claim to Somaliland territory, but have also invaded parts of South Eastern Somaliland two years ago. Their armed militia is still occupying the Somaliland town of Las Anod. The world is aware of this naked aggression and Somaliland will not continue to tolerate the occupation of its territory and the announced plans to attempt to exploit the resources of Somaliland.

The Republic of Somaliland has thus far exercised extreme restraint as it tried to bring this matter to a peaceful conclusion. Somaliland will defend its territory and once again reiterates to the international community, principally the UN Security Council, to not lift the ban on selling weapons to Colonel Yusuf. Given his background, this former warlord will attempt to illegally arm his militia in an attempt to draw otherwise peaceful Somaliland into the quagmire now prevailing in Somalia.

According to the African Unions charter on territorial integrity in Articles 3 and 4, agreed upon in 1963 and again in 2002, "the AU is determined to safeguard and consolidate the hard-won independence as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our states..." Somaliland will not allow its territorial integrity to be breached and will never permit an illegal exploration within the internationally recognized borders of Somaliland which are in accord with the OAU Cairo Declaration of respecting borders inherited at independence.

R.R. Ltd was manipulated into a nefarious enterprise by the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the local authorities in Puntland. The area of Sool and Sanaag are in Somaliland therefore R.R. Ltd. would serve its interest by heeding the warning from the Somaliland government. We urge companies interested in exploring minerals in Somaliland to deal with the legitimate government of Somaliland.

Background
Somaliland Forum organization is an independent think-tank that brings together Somalilanders and Somaliland supporters in the Diaspora. This organization believes in the sovereignty and democracy of Somaliland. We work with Somaliland communities and friends around the globe to contribute and work towards the socio-economic and democratic development of the Republic of Somaliland. For more information: somalilandforum.com or chair@somalilandforum.com

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