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Fairfax, Virginia, USA, 22 June 2008: The Somali Diaspora Network (SDN) has always advocated for and emphasized the critical importance of inclusive dialogue and political reconciliation to resolve the crisis in Somalia. In that spirit, SDN welcomes the peace talks held in Djibouti earlier this month and the agreement between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and a faction of the Alliance for Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS). However, the agreement contains ambiguous language that may contribute to further escalation of the conflict and the continuation of the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia, as well as the continuation of the suffering of millions of Somalis who face the worst humanitarian crisis in Africa.

While the agreement sets a timeline for the withdrawal of the Ethiopian forces, it places an immeasurable and unverifiable condition on such withdrawal. This ambiguity in the language of the agreement has already resulted in conflicting interpretations of when the Ethiopian occupation will end. In public statements made to the BBC Somali service, the leaders of the ARS faction delegation that signed the agreement insist that the Ethiopians will withdraw in 120 days while members of the TFG downplayed the 120-day deadline and insisted that the Ethiopian forces will withdraw only when 'sufficient' UN forces arrive. As Dr. Michael Weinstein points out, the timetable for withdrawal of the Ethiopian forces is dependent on "the unlikely deployment of a U.N." force.  (The West Wins a Pyrrhic victory in Somalia. June 12, 2008).This condition and the uncertainty surrounding it diminish the efficacy of this agreement.

The agreement also completely ignores the Human Rights violations that are being committed while Somalia is under Ethiopian occupation. This critical omission occurs at a time when Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have released extensive reports documenting grave violations of Human Rights and the war crimes that are being committed.

Viable and lasting peace requires that those who committed war crimes be brought to justice.

Despite the apparent shortcomings of the agreement, SDN strongly urges all Somalis to engage in a genuine political settlement and to establish an inclusive power sharing arrangement to bring about lasting peace and stability in Somalia. SDN also appeals to the international community to fulfill their promises made to the Somali people by ending the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia and by deploying the UN peace keeping troops without delay. Furthermore, SDN calls on both the Somalis and the international community to guarantee the safe delivery of emergency assistance to the innocent civilians who are suffering due to the severe humanitarian crisis.

ABOUT SOMALI DISAPOR NETWORK (SDN) – SDN is a grass-roots organization committed to advocate on critical policy matters pertaining to Somali-American interest and issues of concern through communication and information sharing, raising public awareness, and educating the public and government officials.