Honorable Members of the Commission

Background

Somaliland attained independence from the Britain on 26 June 1960. It existed as a separate independent state recognized by several countries in the United Nations for four days, before entering into the ill-fated union with Italian Somalia to form the subsequently failed state of Somalia. In that state, the Somaliland people were severely marginalized during the first nine years of the mafia-style run southern dominated civilian governments, followed by twenty years of brutal dictatorship, which especially targeted the northern population primarly to stamp out their burning desire to regain their lost independence. The Somali National Movement (SNM) started an armed struggle against the genocidal onslaught of the Siyad Barre regime on the population in the early 1980s. For the suffering mass, it was also a start of the struggle to regain their independence. The resultant massacres, forced dislocation of civilian populations and destruction of property by the regime is well-documented in the literature; it is also visibly discernable from the lives of the population and the destroyed infrastructure in the now fast recovering Somaliland.

Reclaiming their independence and establishing the present Somaliland Republic on May 1991, the Somaliland people have embarked on a bold process of reconciliation among warring groups, rebuilding the institutions of the new state and a clear vision of building a just and democratic society. Fifteen years into the rebuilding process, Somaliland defied all odds and has taken tremendous strides towards that vision: among its achievements are:

1. Sustained peace and security after 32 successful peace and reconciliation Conferences

2. A homegrown model of successfully demobilized its ex-combatants, and reintegrated into the society

3. Rebuilt government institutions including: a presidential executive branch, a bicameral parliament and a judiciary.

4. Established a working administrative system covering all-Somaliland territory

5. Written constitution endorsed overwhelmingly through popular referendum

6. Established an independent Electoral Commission

7. Established a vibrant multi-party system

8. Held three internationally monitored free and fair elections for: the elections: the presidential election, the election of 82-member House of Representatives an that of the Regional Councils.

9. Maintained a stable state where people are freely pursuing their interests and occupations in life, be it economic, social or political.

10. Contributed to the stability of an otherwise volatile region. Peace with its neighbors, except with Puntland which claims and occupies parts of Somaliland territory

Consolidation of the Democratic Process

The Somaliland people are very grateful and appreciative of the support the EU and its international partners availed them in advancing the democratic process in Somaliland. However, if we become complacent about the consolidation of these achievements so far, and the continued advancement of the process, it is going to be a tremendous loss for Somaliland and for its international partners. It is a huge investment and it is still very fragile in the face of the new challenges arising in the region.

In the present crisis situation in the Somalia theatre and in the Horn, Somaliland is a staunch ally of the free world, and is a cornerstone of the efforts to advance the democratic culture in the region. For Somaliland to consolidate and advance the democratic process, UCID identifies four key areas for which it urges the EU and other international partners to support and to engage our government on the matter in a more robust manner.

Institutional capacity building for the recently elected House of Representative. While the commitment of the MPs and their leadership to uphold the democratic process could be exemplary in the continent, their capacity to accomplish much is going to be limited.

Institutional support to the political parties. There is a dire need to redouble efforts to widen the base of democratic culture among the population and to challenge other competing forces.

Completion of the registration is absolutely critical for advancement and consolidation of the democratic process.

Support for the upcoming elections within the next 18 months

Unrecognized Status of Somaliland:

The Somaliland people despite their efforts to establish their state in the internationally accepted ideals and values, and the tangible achievements demonstrated, feel that there is an undeclared embargo on them. Denial of recognition, translates into denial of access to the international resources requisite for development and human security. Present creeping hopelessness for any improvement of peoples ’livelihoods is hardly a positive advertisement for confidence and invest in the democratic process. There is a general feeling that internal strength of this society rooted in their democratic-egalitarian culture and their entrepreneurial spirit are being eroded by an unfair silent embargo imposed on them.

UCID is committed to work for the full recognition of the Somaliland State. However, being cognizant of the challenges to overcome for full recognition, we are urging the EU, the US, the AU and other international partners, to work out with us a formula for an intermediary status in the shorter term, which allows us for:

Some level of bilateral relationships with friendly states

Observer status in international and regional organizations

Access to international financial institutions and markets

Somaliland and the Joint Needs Assessment (JNA)

Somaliland has not been a party to the original signature with the UN; however, the government negotiated a seventeen point understanding with the United nations – JNA management, in which the two parties agreed on that the Somaliland process is separate from that of Somalia. UCID supports the JNA in that context and urges the international community to ensure that Somaliland process is in the development stage, that its fair share of the funds be separately allocated, managed and disbursed.

UCID believes that Somaliland will not get a fair treatment if the donor conference is held ROME and therefore, urges the UN, EU, US and other international partners to hold the conference at a neutral location.

UCID’s stand on the Current and Emerging Crisis Situation in Somalia

UCID supports the right of the people in Somalia for peace and stability and especially for the people in Mogadishu who freed themselves from the war-lords. We respect their choice of authority and government, however we hope from those authorities not to underestimate the Somaliland people and their leaders’ resolve to counter any attempt to undermine their independent and vibrant democratic state.

Recent statements from the President of Transitional Government of Somalia, infringe on the rights of the Somaliland people to their independence and state. That is an ominous recipe for reigniting conflict in the region. It is the responsibility of the international community who support the TFG, to not contribute to such war ambitions of Abdillahi Yusuf. The TFG has enough of its own problems and need not divert attention its responsibility to establish peace and reconciliation within the constituencies it purports to represent and to provide the good governance they long for.

On the issue of deploying foreign troops in Somalia, UCID’s stand is that, it creates more complications and will not lead to any positive results. Deployment of Foreign troops will not bring any solution to the Somalia crisis. It will lead to the international community taking the untenable position of imposing one faction on the rest. It will also empower and give legitimacy in the eyes of the masses to groups which are now operating on the fringes. Further more, the armed conflict now confined to the Bandir region can escalate far and wide and may not be confined to the Somalis only. It will involve different states and grouping who may use the situation for their proxy wars (Ethiopia and Eritrea; Ethiopia and Arabs, Ethiopia and its opposition, political Islam against the secular; foreign Jihadists against western interests etc)

Finally, UCID supports current international initiative of constructively engaging the Islamic Courts and efforts to support dialogue between them and the TFG. It is our believe that to resolve the Somalia conflict, there is no alternative to dialogue and to reconciliation among themselves and that the international community can only play a facilitating role.