-It’s the culmination of the trademark homegrown Somaliland pacification tradition
-President terms the accord as his happiest day since assuming office
-The efforts are a result of his personal commitment to peaceful stability and harmonious coexistence
By M.A. Egg
Once again the nation of the Republic of Somaliland, under the stewardship of the Head of State H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro has depicted to the world that the country’s homegrown pacification traditional trademark of conciliatory efforts surpasses all means as far as cohesion and stability is concerned.
This has just been again witnessed in the concluded Sanaag Peace Conference that brings to a halt the discord that resulted in politically instigated skirmishes which saw a section of the area community rendered IDPs.
It has now opened a new chapter of harmonious coexistence and lasting peaceful stability built on communal rapport and consensus.
The President delivered a memorable speech at the closing ceremony of the conference that included gratitude, advice, prayers and national optimism, deeply praising the efforts of the Sanaag region’s clans and their traditional leadership that led to reaching a historic consensus, rapprochement and national agreement.
The President also highly praised the leadership, intellectuals, traditional elders and various segments of the Erigavo community who have united to achieve lasting peace, and everyone who played a prominent role in the peace process, pledging that the his government of Unity and Action is fully committed to maintaining peace, stability, unity and development of the Erigavo community and the Sanaag region as a whole.
The peace conference ended in an atmosphere of brotherhood and mutual respect, becoming another example that shows how Somaliland prides itself on conciliatory resolve of its disputes based on negotiations, compromises and understanding.
The President Abdirahman Irro pointed out that the Erigavo peace process would not have been possible without cooperation, particularly praising the role of Sultan Said Sultan Abdisalan and other traditional leaders of the Sanaag region in the implementation and success of the conference.
He said, “The Sanaag summit would not have been possible without the cooperation of Sultan Said and his traditional leaders, and it would not have been possible without the efforts and time of Sultan Said and his traditional leaders.
He described the achievement realized on the closing day as the happiest day of his year at the helm, for being flanked by two most influential traditional grand leaders of Somaliland, Sultan Said Sultan Abdisalan of Sanaag and Ugaas Abdirashid Ugaas Rooble of Awdal, who were absent from the country when he took office.
He said, “In the ten months I have been in office, today is the happiest day for me, with Sultan Said Sultan Abdisalan sitting on my left and Ugaas Abdirashid Ugaas Rooble sitting on my right. Both of them were absent from the country when I took office, and today I am happy that they are sitting by my side.”
The President described the peace conference in Erigavo as a milestone sending a clear message to the international community and the rest of the world, showing that Somaliland is secure and its people have the same interests.
He said, “This peace conference shows the international community and the world that Somaliland is secure and its people have the same interests, whether in the east, west or at the center of the nation.”
The major peace conference was on for about a month with technical committees working round the clock to resolve issues and its epitome was its last two days that saw the President and the grand sultans’ entry for the official closure and witnessing the communiqué.
The summit focused on finalizing reconciliation efforts and resolving persistent conflicts that escalated in the region at the end of the previous year. The high-level meeting aimed to build upon recent peace-building initiatives that have been underway in the area.
President Abdirahman’s visit to Erigavo marks his first official trip to the city as a Head of State.
Following the successful conclusion of the landmark peace conference, in his speech at the venue Sultan Said Sultan Abdisalan lauded the collective effort and issued a resolute call for sustained unity, defining Erigavo as a shared home for all its inhabitants.
The Sultan expressed his profound appreciation for the leadership of the President of Somaliland and all participants, acknowledging their role in a gathering that has laid a solid foundation for lasting harmony in the Sanaag region.
In a statement that underscored the city’s communal spirit, Sultan Said declared, “Erigavo belongs to us all—it is a city of brothers and sisters.”
He extended an open invitation to those not present to join the peace process, emphasizing that collective security and prosperity are universal aspirations.
“Our sole aim is the well-being of our nation and its people,” he affirmed, highlighting the selfless commitment driving the reconciliation efforts.
The Sultan called upon the entire Sanaag community—including elders, women, youth, religious leaders, and local authorities—to take primary responsibility for nurturing the newly established peace. “We as the community are the ones who can establish and maintain peace in Erigavo,” he stated, urging a grassroots-driven approach to restore the region’s dignity and unity.
While praising the government and appointed committees for their pivotal roles, Sultan Said pledged his unwavering dedication to completing the journey ahead. “We have fulfilled our duty and are ready to finish what remains,” he vowed.
The Erigavo peace conference is heralded as a definitive turning point for Sanaag, uniting its people behind a common vision of stability and progress and signaling the promise of a more prosperous future.
Presiding over the proceedings, Hon. Osman Ibrahim Nur, Somaliland’s Minister of Transport and Road Development who oversaw the Sanaag Peace Meeting and Chairman of the National Peace Committee Abdiqadir Jirde, presented the final resolutions to the large gathering of community leaders and representatives, who demonstrated a unified commitment to a peaceful future.
The conference gave forth the following six basic resolutions in their communiqué:
1. Basic Commitment to Peace: Communities across Sanaag have solemnly pledged to foster and maintain peaceful coexistence, with a specific focus on Erigavo and its surrounding areas, to ensure a stable and harmonious social coexistence.
2. Unified Support for National Sovereignty: The delegates unanimously affirmed their dedication to the security and unity of Sanaag, concurrently declaring their steadfast support for the statehood and sovereignty of the Republic of Somaliland.
3. A Mandate for Active Reconciliation: The resolution calls for sustained, proactive outreach to promote the peace framework and integrate all parties, including those absent from the current dialogue, under the auspices of the presidential peace initiative.
4. Accelerating Imperative Development: Citing the urgent need for socio-economic advancement, the communities called upon the Somaliland government to prioritize and expedite essential development projects to address critical infrastructure and service gaps in the region.
5. Integrated Security Mechanism: Collaborative security system was endorsed, whereupon the Somaliland government will work in concerted effoerts with local communities to lead and consolidate regional security, decisively countering threats to public order.
6. Tribute to Presidential Leadership: The conference expressed profound gratitude to the President of Somaliland for his pivotal role in initiating and championing the peace process, acknowledging his efforts as instrumental in achieving national cohesion.
The Erigavo Peace Conference stands as a definitive moment for Sanaag, establishing a robust framework for collaboration and signaling the dawn of a new era focused on shared prosperity and enduring peace for its people and for all of Somaliland.
A unique event in Somaliland, where the work that had not been done for seven years was done in ten months….
President Irro, who has been on a working trip to all six regions of Somaliland in less than a year and 10 months, has carried out tangible activities and development projects in each region that are in great need in the regions of the country.
The efforts are culmination of the massive demobilization of rag tag tribal militias and subsequently absorbing and integrating over 6000 of them with their armors to the national armed forces, a no mean achievement without any foreign aid or help.
The President went to Erigavo a day after coming back from Ethiopia, a trip that was focused on boosting regional stability.
The President pledged the peaceful initiatives during his presidential campaigns and put it in motion immediately upon being sworn in.