Letter to the London Conference on Somalia
Hon. David Cameron MP, Prime Minister 10 Downing St. London SW1A 2AA His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon Secretary-General, United Nations New York, NY United States of America The Honorable Baroness Catherine Ashton High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Vice-President of
Hon. David Cameron MP, Prime Minister
10 Downing St.
London SW1A 2AA
His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary-General, United Nations
New York, NY
United States of America
The Honorable Baroness Catherine Ashton
High Representative of the European Union
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Vice-President of the European Commission
200, rue de la Loi
B-1049 Brussels
Brussels,
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary
U.S. Department of State
Washington DC 20037
Honorable Jean Ping
Chairman of the Commission for African Union
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
IGAD Secretariat
Avenue Georges Clemenceau
P.O. Box 2653 Djibouti
Republic of Djibouti
H.E. Dr. Nabil ElAraby, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Secretariat –
Tahrir Square Cairo, Egypt
Honorable Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,
P.O.Box 178, Jeddah 21411, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Excellencies,
We would like to take this historic opportunity to thank the government of United Kingdom for its unflinching commitment and timely hosting of the London Conference on SOMALIA on February 23/2012.
We hope this August Gathering will concretely underscore the urgent need for sustainable peace in Somalia in particular and the Horn of Africa in general. The world expects this conference to come up with a comprehensive outline and a practical process on how to resolve the intricate and multi-faceted crisis in Somalia.
The significance of the conference is not only reflected by the very urgency of the need to bring peace and stability to the highly volatile strategic region but also by the overwhelming commitment of the leaders and representatives of diverse countries, institutions and organizations that have chosen to attend and represent their countries and institutions in this conference.
The seven point program agenda attests to the intensity and seriousness of the genuine concern motivating the participation of all actors seeking a vision and solution for a region desperately in search a comprehensive peace. This noble undertaking will be watched and scrutinized by a wide range of political forces and observers for its success and shortcomings in the immediate now and in decades to come.
That said it will be a dereliction of duty if we did not bring to the attention of this historic gathering one key issue: that in spite of the vast resource, time and effort invested on this conference there are elements within the Horn Region that would leave no stone unturned to derail this noble effort. The conference will fall short if it does not address the crystallizing convergence of destructive forces in the region and pronounce a unified condemnation and denunciation of these elements at the closing of the conference.
The nexus between Al-Shebaab and the Eritrean regime represent the convergence of destructive forces hell-bent on derailing any and all positive undertaking that could bring any semblance of peace and stability to the war-torn Somalia and the Horn of Africa. The recent official announcement by Al-Qaida on Al-Shebaab joining its ranks only affirms what the reality has been on the ground for sometimes.
The London conference’s genuine effort to outline a forward looking concrete proposals and practical measures on how to deal with the intricate challenges faced by the people of Somalia will fall short unless the role of the Eritrean government in destabilizing Somalia and the rest of the region is openly and frankly addressed by all attending this conference.
Excellencies,
The UNSC has passed consecutive resolution (UNSCR- 1907 and 2023) demanding that the Eritrean government stop destabilizing the Horn Africa and cease and desist from financially and materially supporting and sponsoring Al-Shebaab and resolving its differences with Djibouti in a peaceful and constructive way. IGAD and AU have constantly demanded that the Eritrean government refrain from its irresponsible and destructive role. All these effort has not made a difference in the policy and practice of the Eritrean government.
The record clearly shows that the government of The State of Eritrea has not implemented a single provision of the relevant UNSC sanctions. On the contrary its intransigence has been amplified. Given its well-entrenched uncooperative posture it is very unlikely that it will officially repudiate Al-Shebaab and Al-Qaida, make peace with the government and people of Djibouti, recognize the Transition Federal Government of Somalia, accept the Kampala Accord and Roadmap as viable plan. This is the hard reality the world cannot wish away.
The London Conference on Somalia has a golden opportunity to take a firm stand against the well documented illegal behavior of the Eritrean government by incorporating in its declaration and communiqué a resolution affirming solid support to the UNSC resolutions on Eritrea and demanding that Eritrean government comply with all aspects of the UNSC resolutions without any equivocation.
A critical part of the discussion at this conference has to address this glaring challenge. Failing to do so will undercut the vision and purpose of this timely conference.
Excellencies,
The people of Eritrea wish nothing better than a Peaceful Horn of Africa where war, terrorism, famine and dislocation of people are brought to an end. Unfortunately the government in power in Asmara does not represent their political wish or their longing for peace. Under the circumstance we, members of the Eritrean civil society in the Diaspora felt it was our duty to convey the overall consensus of the vast Eritrean Diaspora concerning the negative role played by the undemocratic government in power in Eritrea. For the sake of the people of Eritrea and the entire Horn of Africa we hope our plea and concern will be taken into account in your deliberation and resolution.
We wish a resounding success to the conference and kindly request that our letter is forwarded to all attending this historic conference.
With high hopes and expectations,
Seyoum Tesfaye
Chairman of Eritrean Global Solidarity (EGS)
Merachew Berhe
Chairman of Network of Eritrean Civil Societies in Europe (NECS-Europe)
February 21, 2012
simon haile February 23, 2012
Abey alekume Zaybelkume si Abet teblu..
Somalian problem can only be solved by somalian. The people of somalia are capable of overcoming their problems. The west should stop political intervention.
Abnet Tesfai February 23, 2012
simon haile
even your old mad dog dictator should stop from intervention in Somalia.
simon haile February 23, 2012
Your point is?
Fetawihaki February 23, 2012
you saphead, stop to repeat this parrot fashion!!
If you see two brothers beating each other black and blue on ur way, are you going to intervene and try to pull them apart or would you do nothing hopping that they would stop fighting and apologize each other???
yebio woldemariam February 23, 2012
The letter addressed to the distinguished members representing world community clearly echos the wishes and expectations of the Eritrean people who know very well lack of peace in any country of the region is lack of peace in Eritrea as well. Contrary to few, the government in Eritrea thrives on violence and wars, in the long run , therefore, peace in Somalia is definitely the antithesis of its existence.
True Eritrean February 23, 2012
who are you kidding? we hear this line for so many years from Dictator Isayas. I guess Eritrea is the only country blessed to interfere in Somalia. First save your asses from extinction..then you can talk about others.
GOOD MAN February 23, 2012
I do wish good news to happen in Somalia, but right know my concern is how to end the useless, oppressive regime in Eritrea. our mission should be how to make the evil disappear from the earth, so we can find peace and tranquility. our attention should not be diverted in any way, we have no time to wast and we must wash-out the ruthless regime and change is coming.
Facts-whose-facts February 23, 2012
From where your mami BED. Bejaka nai sebeti Geberi hadami wedi hadami.
Fetawihaki February 23, 2012
typical incompetent HGDEF supporter badmouths
GOOD MAN February 24, 2012
Facts- WHOSE- FACT
Wear your master like a locket around your throat, I’ll watch you chock. You look so good in blue. You’ll come crawling back, go to hell you frigging jerk. change is coming.
Facts-whose-facts February 24, 2012
Keep bend-over for your master Bitch-man change your name from Good to Bitch.
Facts-whose-facts February 23, 2012
Hey Good man you are Right You are wasting your time drinking your beer in some western Bars and fatting Your Ass watching Fox and CNN news you should get your ass and try to do something halay.
Ahmed saleh February 23, 2012
High ya mushmush wahed
Facts-whose-facts February 24, 2012
Amhed Saleho
Anta luttie wahed, Why the white man save your ass from all killing dumb Ass, The british your white-master when anxity you with Ethiopia, he did respect your Freedom of Right to exists dumb Ass. Tell me why not they saved your Ass from the ethiopians and gave you, Your Freedom to exists donkoro agame-jeberti. We liberated Eritrea with out any help of your new masters donkoro luttie wahdi.
GOOD MAN February 24, 2012
Facts- whose- facts
The fact is you are firmly rooted in your muster belief. Your response is driven by reptilian part of your brain, because you believe you are right regardless of any evidence to the contrary. You live in your own world, and pay little attention to the needs of other people.
You are a loser. Are you feeling sorry for your self? Well you should because you are a loser. You want a bottle baby? A big dirt bottle.
Dead head go jump off a bridge because you will experience a few thrilling moments on your way down, and then you will move your life in the right direction. Dumb head, I am not belong in your losers club. Change is coming.
ahmed saleh February 24, 2012
Good Man
He is a garbage, mushmush wahed. STUPID LOSER.
Facts-whose-facts February 24, 2012
anta Luttie ahmada wedi-sebeti keep bend-over and they stick my legs upto Your Ass Faggot.
Kibrom T. February 25, 2012
To: whosefacts
Pull your head out of the toilet.
HGDF February 24, 2012
I thought the opposition don’t care about what happens in Somalia. Since when have you become so concerned? If you are doing it to harvest sanction out of it, you should learn from previous attempts. If you are really concerned about somalia, then stop calling your Somali brothers terrorists just because Meles called them so. Instead help them reconcile.