A Statement by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Addis Ababa, October 10, 2009 (SL Times) – On Wednesday (September 30, 2009), Somaliland's three political parties, the ruling party UDUB and the two opposition parties, Kulmiye and UCID, signed a six point Memorandum of Understanding, hopefully bringing to an end months of disagreement and dispute over the upcoming presidential election. The Memorandum, put forward by Friends of Somaliland, namely the UK and Ethiopia, was signed by the three party leaders, President Dahir Riyale Kahin (UDUB), Ahmed Mohamed Mahamoud 'Sillanyo' (Kulmiye) and Faisal Ali Warabe (UCID). Also present at the signing were members of the Guurti, the House of Elders, chaired by Suleiman Mahamud Aden 'Gaal', and of the Lower House Parliament, including the Speaker, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi, as well as representatives of the local and international media and of Ethiopia and the UK.

The agreement, whose preamble stresses the need for fair, free and peaceful elections to preserve the peace, stability and credibility of Somaliland, commits the parties to six points, most importantly in effect depoliticizing the date of the election. The parties agree to the postponement of the election which is to be held under the auspices of new and credible Election Commission, assisted by a team of independent international experts whose terms of reference will be agreed with the Commission and the parties. The Commission will then produce a refined voter’s registration list and fix a new date for the election based on the time required for final preparations to be made. In the meantime the signatories agree the offices of President and Vice-President should be extended to no more than a month after the date fixed for the election. The final point of the Memorandum underlines the need for the Friends of Somaliland to continue their involvement in the process to help ensure its implementation.

This agreement, endorsed earlier by the Guurti as "the ultimate remedy for the Somaliland problem", has already been referred to as "Somaliland's six pillars of survival." It should bring to an end months of dispute over the election date and the voter registration list, disputes which led to scuffles in Parliament and violent demonstrations in Hargeysa in which four died on September 12. In statements after the signing ceremony in the Presidential Palace, the parties, which acknowledged the efforts made by the UK and Ethiopia, committed themselves to implement the agreement in good faith and to make sure that nothing similar should happen in the future. They expressed their readiness to settle differences by themselves as they have done in the past. They also committed themselves to put clan issues aside and act as in the national interests of Somaliland, to preserve, as the Memorandum emphasizes, “the stability, security and credibility of Somaliland”. The President, referring to recent detentions and the need to make the election speedy, fair and free, committed the Government to a process of conciliation. This was, in fact, the first time for nearly six months that the parties has sat down together, and talked to each other in a friendly atmosphere.

The local media, public and private, in their reports have already made it clear just how much a relief the agreement is. There is also very real appreciation for the swift action of Somaliland's friends, and general appreciation that what remains now is for the parties to carry out the practical actions to pave the way for a peaceful, free and fair election. This view is certainly shared by Ethiopia, and the UK, whose interest and involvement in the process has been in the preservation of peace and stability of Somaliland. It could not be an option for Ethiopia to remain with hands folded while Somaliland slid into chaos. Somaliland has provided an area of relative stability in our region for eighteen years. It deserves every encouragement and support and Ethiopia will continue to assist Somaliland whenever necessary. No doubt, the UK will do likewise. It has indeed been a worthwhile partnership.

Source: The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saturday, 03 October 2009

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