By M.A. Egge
The President of the Republic of Somaliland H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro has called on the traditional leaders in the country to blend in and support the government’s efforts in prioritizing peaceful and conciliatory means to resolve conflicts.
He also underpinned the fact that it was incumbent upon the state to defend the people and the nation of Somaliland at all times.
The President expressed the sentiments as he addressed the nation’s senior traditional leaders at the Presidency where hosted a luncheon in their honor
He was flanked by his deputy, the Vice President H.E. Mohamed Ali Aw Abdi.
The Head of State underscored the indispensable role that the traditional leaders have been playing, from time immemorial to-date, as anachronistic government to the crucial supplementary key players in the maintenance of peaceful and cohesive stability in our modern times in the country.
He hailed them for the roles they had been playing all along including the peace-meal pacification processes that they entrenched in the country; that made the nation a household name in the eyes of the global world in the successful traditional home-made reconciliatory prowess they exhibited.
The President reiterated the government’s intention and resolve of addressing any, or all, conflicts that abound in peaceful and conciliatory means.
To underscore the resolve, the President revealed that he has decided to work towards peaceful stability, cohesion, tranquility, and solidarity in attaining progress for the rest of his life.
He pointed out that the traditional leaders are direct representatives of the people who the administration reckon with and respect highly.
He called upon them to blend in, and support the government’s efforts, in uniting the nation and foster peaceful tranquility amongst the people of the nation.
He welcomed the message of peace that was conveyed through emissaries last month in addressing skirmishes and conflicts in the eastern parts of the country.
The President also noted that the government will support the suggestion of senior Sultan Abdillahi Sultan Ali who proposed the formation of a “traditional leaders’ guild” to better coordinate and consolidate the important roles and functions played by them.
The traditional leaders who spoke at the venue pledged to support the endeavors of the government towards entrenching and facilitating peaceful stability, cohesion, tranquility, unity and solidarity amongst the people and the nation of Somaliland.
It is worth noting that even before the President ascended to office, and immediately after, he has maintained the conviction that his administration would give peaceful reconciliatory means top priority in handling and addressing conflicts in the country.
To this end, the President embarked on the establishing of a crucial taskforce to spearhead the endeavor in the name of Somaliland Peace Council (SPC) which would facilitate peaceful overtures and conciliatory dialogue whenever and wherever it may deem.
The officials of the council led by Somaliland’s most eminent personality and statesman, and Senior Presidential Political Advisor, Abdiqadir Haji Ismael Jirde were present at the event.
The mandated duties and responsibilities of the SPC are to promote peace and unity in the Republic of Somaliland, facilitate peace talks and create forums and an environment for dialogue in order to strengthen peace and stability in society and prevent conflicts and conflicts in the regions of the Republic of Somaliland.
It will also spearhead the government’s efforts in peacemaking, conflict resolution and reconciliation, holding and facilitating peacemaking meetings and negotiations between conflict-affected communities, hence determining measures to prevent, or resolve conflicts, and/or establish and maintain lasting peace and stability in the Republic of Somaliland.
It will also work to strengthen and support efforts to build social understanding and coexistence in order to encourage coexistence and build public awareness of cooperation and peace-building.
It is expected that the SPC will work in tandem with the nation’s traditional leaders in achieving the objectives of peaceful stability and unity.
Indeed, traditional leaders are the pride and dignity of the Somaliland nation and are mainly the key contributors to maintaining peace, stability and harmony within the societies across the nation, hence similarly, in resolving conflicts, preventing conflicts, and are the foundation of nation-building.