Jan 21, 2014

Somaliland: Somalia Acknowledges Violations


Sunday 18 January was the last day of the talks between Somaliland and Somalia that were held in Istanbul, Turkey. The Somali Federal Government admitted that human rights violations against Somaliland inhabitants were committed, and the two parties agreed on a number of future developments. 

Below is an article by the Somaliland Sun:

The fifth phase of internationally sanctioned talks between Somaliland and Somalia have concluded in the Turkish ancient city of Istanbul after three days of negotiations said to be the most strenuous and difficult.

Following conclusion the two parties under the watchful eyes of Turkish government officials designed the ISTANBUL II COMMUNIQUE of 18 January 2014 that gives a brief on past, current and proposed way forward for future engagements between the two countries as well as acknowledgement by the Somali Federal Government- SFG that human rights violations were perpetrated against Somaliland citizens between 1960 to 1991.

The 9 points Istanbul II Communiqué was signed on behalf of the government of Somaliland by H.E. Mohamed Behi Yonis minister of foreign affairs and for the Federal Government of Somalia by H.E. Abdikarim Hussein Guleid its minister of Security sets a number of commitments with the actual implementation of agreements being chief.

Among other issues agreed upon include setting up of a joint air traffic control and management body within 45 days from today, resumption of talks in 90 days, constitute a three pronged talks technical committee with members from Somaliland, Turkey and Somalia.

En-route to the talks the two parties under the moderation of Turkish authorities set a number of agendas chief being that the focus of the discussions will be the nature of future relations of the two parties, Somaliland and Somalia.

The two countries former British Somaliland (North) and Italian Somalia entered a voluntary union later turned fateful in 1960 that was revoked in 1991 after Somaliland re-declared its short lived independence of 1960 following a brutal civil waged against forces loyal to Dictator Siad Barre (then said to be the 2nd Strongest in Africa) by SNM a ragtag outfit of the northerners. The war of the 1980's ensued after over 60,000 people from Somaliland were massacred either en-masse, in small groups or individually.