Diaspora applaud Somaliland’s decision to boycott the May 2013 London conference for Somalia
Press Statement –Somaliland Societies in Europe-SSE
Somalilandsun – Unlike the February 2012 London conference on the future of Somalia to which Somaliland was invited separately by the United Kingdom government, the planned May 2013 London conference for Somalia organised and chaired jointly by the United Kingdom and Somalian government is totally different. As has been publicised, the aim of this conference is to provide assistance to the Somalian government to achieve its stated policies which include upholding “the unity and integrity of Somalia” while the same Somalia is illegally claiming authority over Somaliland.
The Republic of Somaliland has, since May 1991, been an independent country and has never attended conferences on the unity of “Somalia” and will not do so now.
As members of the Somaliland diaspora groups, we support fully the recent announcement by President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo that Somaliland will not attend this conference or any other meetings which will damage the sovereignty, independence and interests of the Somaliland nation. Somaliland is willing to continue with the bilateral talks with Somalia endorsed at the February 2012 London Conference and looks forward to a time when the two countries can prosper together as neighbours.
Somaliland will be celebrating the 22nd Anniversary of the reassertion of its independence in May 2013. We will be making our representations to the EU countries at a public rally to be held in Brussels on 11th April 2013. Our message is simple: Somaliland is here to stay.
SSE
On behalf of the following Somaliland diaspora groups:
Somaliland Societies in Europe (SSE)
Somaliland Society UK (SSUK)
West London Somaliland Community
Wales Somaliland Community
Somaliland Law.com
Somaliland International Recognition Action Group (SIRAG)
Somaliland Forum
Somaliland Constitutional Group
13 Rue Jean Monnet, 64000-Pau, France, Tel: +33 689831266, London: +44 7870515334, Web: www.sseuro.com Email: info@sseuro.com , Twitter: @SSE_Somaliland
