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Djibouti and Somaliland reject Somalia peace conference

March 30, 2011 · 2134328 Comments2011-03-31+01%3A55%3A24Qalinle+Hussein

DJIBOUTI — The Djibouti government has for the first time publicly rejected an upcoming Somali conference sponsored by the UN to be held in the Kenyan capital, an official said on Wednesday.

Mr. Hamoud Abdi Sultan, Djibouti Muslim Affairs Minister, told VOA Somali services that his government was strongly opposed to the proposed international peace conference in Nairobi because it was undermining the 2009 Djibouti conference that has formed the current TFG.

He said a new conference will only complicate things even further and will reignite the conflict in Somalia. He believes the conference will not move the current efforts forward but instead will backpaddle the whole process.

The conference proposed by Ambassador Augustine P. Mahiga, the Secretary General of the United Nation’s envoy to Somalia, calls for an international peace conference in April that would involve direct negotiations between Somalia’s many warring factions.

During his state visit to Hargeisa last week, Mr. Mahida invited Somaliland to take a center role in the conference but it unilaterally rejected the offer saying it has nothing to do with Somalia’s unrests. Somaliland said, it wishes Somalia well and hopes they can resolve their prolonged conflict but it will not endorse the meeting.

The announcement by Djibouti, which could be a setback for Mahida’s initiatives, comes hours after Mr. Mahida flew to Mogadishu to try to mediate a feud between Somalia’s interim President, Sheikh Sharif and the Parliament speaker, Sharif Hassan.

He also said he was inviting the two officials and the Prime Minister Mohamed Abdulahi Farmajo to the conference. He added the conference will not form a new government but instead will focus on establishing a new roundtable consultation process with interested stakeholders.

Sources say the UN will invite Somalia’s semi-autonomous regions of Puntland and Galmudug, Alhu Sunna rebels and the transitional government of former cleric Sheikh Sharif.

Somalilandpress | 30 March 2011

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By Qalinle Hussein

Tags: Djibouti, Kenya, Mahiga, Nairobi conference, Somalia, Somaliland news

ahmed says:

I support Djibouti and Somalind stand on this so called peace conference, in my view it is another 4 year project intended to renew the 20 year Somali civil war tailored by the so called UN.

9:26 pm on March 30, 2011

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Adan Somalilander says:

Well done Somaliland And Jabouti . As I have said many times The republic of Somaliland should allways and forever focused on its own affair –
and Let the people of Walenweyn do what they please in their country of Somalia.
As long as the border is closed then each to his own.

10:05 pm on March 30, 2011

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Kayse says:

I am not a big Djibouti fan, I prefer to deal with Mogadishu than Djibouti. They are protesting because they will not make another cool $400 million on the expense of Somalis suffering in the South. This time Nairobi will get the $400m. But I welcome Somaliland's decision not to take part in this so called conference. We should participate in conferences for the whole region but not one for Somali warlords because we are not warlords, Islamists nor pirates.

Well done.

10:10 pm on March 30, 2011

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- guled says:
  
  Arent you an islamist ?, if you arent dont speak for all the somalilanders please, because we are a muslim nation and we are muslim ( islamist) people.
  
  6:10 am on March 31, 2011
  
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- guled says:
  
  Kayse, dont speak in behalf of the somaliland people if you arent an islamist yourselve, because we are a muslim nation and we are muslim (islamist) people. On the other points i do agree with you though
  
  6:15 am on March 31, 2011
  
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Abdi says:

There goes another ignorant comment. How you seem to know that Djibouti got $400 million is perplexing. You seem not too bright if you missed the concept of this article.

10:17 pm on March 30, 2011

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- Kayse says:
  
  Dont focus on the number, what I am saying is for Kenya and Djibouti its all about the money, allow me to explain. Hotels in Djibouti cost from $200-$11,000 per night per person. So lets take the cheap option $200 per night and the average Somali Conference gets 500-800 Somali elders, politicians, civil servants, tribal chiefs, etc.
  
  They also need meals, drinks, transport and other needs. The average Somali conference lasts 2 months (60 days), so we have already $6million just on hotels, add their food, add their transport, etc…
  
  It will blow in the millions and this millions is good boost for Kenyan or Djibouti hospitality and tourism industry…etc
  
  Djibouti is just mad they didnt get free money to be used for the election for Gelleh.
  
  11:19 pm on March 30, 2011
  
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  - Said says:
    
    "The Djibouti government has for the first time publicly rejected an upcoming Somali conference"…Which part don't you understand, you are simply showing attitude born out of ignorance.
    
    5:55 pm on April 1, 2011
    
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Gobaad says:

Somaliland has nothing to do with Somalia warring factions, why would we want to be part of it?. Let them clean their house and stop the killings of innocent people first and foremost. Unlike them we really wish them well and hope that they come to their senses.

10:24 pm on March 30, 2011

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caydaruus says:

D jabouti wanted to play a major role in handling this conference so that they can not find their reflection in the field of politics.. hope them go and take part.

2:45 am on March 31, 2011

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Ali907 says:

Is this some kind a joke! another conference in another foreign country? Somalia become a laughing stock and if they don't solve their problems in side their own country whatever is left of they will never do it on a foreign soil trust me. I've lost count now but this is probably the 29th conference since the mid 1990's and that tells its own story.

3:01 am on March 31, 2011

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Warya says:

These conferences are always conducted in the presence of the same people who had and still have a vested interest in Somalia's unrest. If the local tribes can not get along among themselves no amount of foreign Aid and unity conferences will help. SIMPLE! Can a foreign nation help resolve a inter Hawiye conflict NO!

WE NEED TO STOP WASTING THE TIME AND EFFORT OF CERTAIN FOREIGNER NATIONS WHO ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT SOMALIA. IT'S UTTER BS!

3:58 am on March 31, 2011

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Dirane says:

Nothing to do with us, that is the position of Somaliland, if they want us help them in solving their cronic choas, they should first recognise us so that our participation is not seen as taking part in Somalia's endless power struggle. We have to serve our interests first and avoid anything that can doubt the honesty of our leadership.

God Bless Somaliland

4:46 am on March 31, 2011

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elies says:

i tottally agree with the somaliland position to reject and to stay far from somalia's problems. on the other hand this is going to be another useless conference, the people of somalia can only help themselves no other nation will help them. may god help them and make them come to their sense. i always support somaliland's position towards somalia, however the people of somalia are human and they deserve rest from this madness. there are innocent people between the warlords, may allah help them. and may allah bless somaliland

4:46 am on March 31, 2011

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Lugay says:

Another failure is on the making. This proposed conference will not be any different from the past 14 failed conferences.

4:55 am on March 31, 2011

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Salma says:

Mr Mahiga sounds a total idiot, or may be he's got a more sinister motives on his call for a conference in Kenya. He has been to Somaliland recently and witnessed facts first hand. i.e how Somaliland is truly an independent country with everything a democratic country should have operational, then, he visits Mogadishu where violence and corruption is a daily routines of those racing for power. And yet he comes up with such vague verdict. Nonsense, and well done to Somaliland and Djibouti for rejecting such nonsense.

6:09 am on March 31, 2011

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Libax says:

Another "Talk Shop", thats all this is. They sleep in five star hotels, in a peaceful environment, eat, drink, chew, get paid some allowance food, act like you are important, while their militia is killing women and children back in Mogadishu. They are the Sultans of poverty and misery. Scam of the earth.

7:34 am on March 31, 2011

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ali says:

i feel sorry for the poor civilian dying in Somalia, Mogadishu residents which are under Aminsom and alshabab bombardment in day and night, Somali chemical and nuclear damping sites in Indian ocean.

9:18 am on March 31, 2011

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Mohamed says:

Somalia has no choice except accepting UN plans since all their salaries are paid by UN. You will see the same people leaving their posts for Nairobi just because of a nice cheque book.

12:51 pm on March 31, 2011

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- Guji says:
  
  Somalia has many choices but lets understand Somaliland's position. Those Southern Somalis do not know how to fix their problem and even worse they do not know how to listen to others, so there is no point going to them. Their elders and so called MPs only going there for the money, right now they get paid $800 per month and there is over 500 so called MPs in a country with population of 8-9 million, even China doesnt probably have 500 MPs. To make things worse none of them live in the country, they all buy cheap tickets and meet in Mogadishu once every six months. Right now they want to double their money $1500 per month.
  
  Somaliland MPs get $200 per month and do far better job than them.
  
  So there is no point going to people motivated by paper (money). We have values and dignity, Mahiga can bribe those southern Somalis. He has to respect our position otherwise dont return to Hargeisa.
  
  1:59 pm on March 31, 2011
  
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Hargeisawi-in-London says:

Most of you, my beloved Somalilanders, seem to be congratulating the Somalilnd government on "saying no" to Mahiga.

I am not so sure; and I am going to reserve my judgement on this until the end of April: At the moment, there is a dangerous muddle at the heart of our foreign policy.

2:14 pm on March 31, 2011

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mohamed says:

Not Somaliland and Djibouti but now the TFG also rejected the proposed upcoming UN
conference meeting in Kenya for the Somalis. What then???
Cheers.

3:08 pm on March 31, 2011

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Saleeban Xaaji Gulee says:

Does the UN never learn? I guess not. They are still peddling the same old rubbish. The tfg mandate expires in August, then there are suppose to be elections in Somalia( good luck with that). For anyone interested in why the mayhem continues to rage in Somalia, all one has to do is read the history of the defunct Somali Republic, especially during the period between 1960-1969. Graft, nepotism, corruption but now with the added factors of deadly weapons, pirates and terrorism. Quite a cocktail. Believe me, Somalia (or what is left of it) will never get its act together in a century, let alone a decade or two.

5:22 pm on March 31, 2011

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abdi yare says:

YOU ARE RIGHT DJIBOUTI HASNT REFUSED BECAUSE OF SOMALILAND OR SOMALIA.. BUT EVERYTHING IS RELATED WITH MONEY AND DJIBOUTI WANTED TO BE THE SOLE REPRESENTATIVE OF SOMALIAN AFFAIRS… DONT BE MISTAKEN EVERYTHING IS MONEY.

5:26 pm on March 31, 2011

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Saleebaan Xaaji says:

Quite right, Somaliland has nothing to do with the hapless UN proposal. It is the same old, same old. the UN never learns, and if anyone is interested in learning why the mayhem in Somalia will never abate, all one has to do is refer back to the history of the defunct Somali Republic, especially the period between 1960-1969. Corruption, nepotism, graft and mayhem, only this time you add the deadly cocktail of piracy, terrorism and heavy weapons. Believe, what is left of Somalia will never get its act together in a century, let alone a decade or two. There are some people who are thriving on this anarchy, so why should they want to help the poor civilians.

11:26 pm on March 31, 2011

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madino says:

gentlem jabuutti is struggling right now for her own. they had crucial election day scheduled. so ben guelleh is so busy fixing his election programms. and his life presidentiel. maybe mess will follows.who knows. so he has a hard time to meet others agenda. so nothing to do with yr propaganda. ben guelle doesnt need money as a matter of facts he detained the sad record beeing the 2nd richest person in the african continent. so things are getting worse for him. as the world is watching him. and history will judge. bigman had serious concerns actually. as we all know. we need to be very careful about the issues.

2:36 am on April 3, 2011

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Major-General Abdihakiim salah says:

If somalia is not supported by its own people ie somaliland and jabuti how do you expect the foreigner who were the main reason for the decline of the somali goverment to help them ?

1:46 am on April 8, 2011

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Mr. Commenter says:

I wonder when somali go to peach! NEVER, NEVER! may be the doums day is approaching! May be at that time? I am sure no body gives a sheet what we are bloging here! only somalis' live outside and have internet access only! Ha! Ha! I am burning!

4:01 pm on April 13, 2011

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