Federal Republic of Somalia

Shabelle State of Somalia

Objection of the technical Committee on formation of the South West Administration which include Lower Shabelle Region

UN; USA; EU; AU; IGAD; LAS;

Governments; Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations

17^th July 2014. The nomination of the 18 members Technical committee for formation of the southwest Somalia which includes Lower Shabelle Region is illegal and against the Federal constitution of Somalia.

We totally object the 18 members’ technical committee that was formed by the Federal Government for formation of the Interim administration of the South West Somalia which we totally object "Lower Shabelle Region” to be part of the 3 Regions administration.

Lower Shabelle Region; never been part of 6 or 3 Regions of the South West Regions of Somalia; historically since independence and during colonial era Lower Shabelle was one the district of Mogadishu which was known as Banadir Region and it was separated from Banadir Region early 1972 when Military Region of Siad Barrre created new 10 additional Regions by splitting 8 former regions of Somalia.

We; Shabelle State control Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle and we are the legitimate Federal State administration that was elected by the people of these two regions according to the federal constitution of  Somalia; which stipulates as following:

Charter 5; Article 48;

N2, No single region can stand alone; until such time as a region merges with another region/s to form a new Federal State.

Article 49; (n6) in Federal Constitution stipulates that: (Based on a voluntary decision’ two or more regions may merge to form a Federal Member State)

Article 50. (a) Every level of the government shall enjoy the confidence and support of the people.

We fulfilled the process of formation of Shabelle State: "we held several conferences in 2013/014 hosted in Afgoi district, Lower Shebelle and attended by 800 delegates from the two Regions, which discussed over developments, political future, security and the way forward to form Shabelle State comprising Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle Regions.

The participants had prepared and adopted on 9^th March 2014 a constitution to govern Shabelle Federal State; Comprising of the two regions.

Likewise, on March 10^th, 2014 the Conference elected the President and Vice President of the Shabelle State.while I, Dr. Abukar Abdi Osman elected President is from clan Digil of Lower Shabelle, and Hon. Muhudin Hassan Afrah elected vice President is native of Middle Shabelle Region, while the speaker of the House post was allocated for Lower Shabelle Region "BIMAAL tribe in Marka”; while the minor groups were allocated their slots.. The cabinet posts and Parliamentary seats were also distributed according to the clans and sub clans in the two regions; And the process was all inclusive.

Therefore, the participants have agreed upon that Afgoi- in lower Shabelle Region to be temporary Headquarter, in which we have currently set our HQ.

We strongly believe that it is up to the people in Lower Shabelle to decide the future of their region and they have decided to join Middle Shabelle and established Shabelle State of Somalia. The people of both Shabelle regions share culture, history and land and they want to be with Shabelle State of Somalia.

The Decision of the Government to form interim Committee for formation of the 3 Regions administration of South West Somalia, which includes Lower Shabelle Region as part of the 3 regions of SW is setback to the democratic society; illegal; against federal constitution and unjustifiable.

"Therefore the Federal Government of Somalia should allow people Lower Shabelle to determine their future”. Administration; and this committee are not welcome there because they are representative of the people or elected.

We restored peace and stabilities to the regions after many reconciliation meetings which we have organized in Marka, Shalambood; Jennaale districts in Lower Shabelle Region and as well as in Mogadishu attended by over 200 people from different Somali sectors; traditional elders; religious leaders, youth; Militiamen leaders, civil society and women which ended one year tribes’ conflicts in Lower Shabelle Region; which the Somali Government was unable to resolve.

When we arrived in Marka and visited the District Commissioner’s office we totally saw vacant office and no administration in place. Therefore, we brought over 100 people in district commissioners in Marka to elect the new district Commissioner and four of his deputies and council of 13 members to administer a Marka district.

In addition we opened the main road which connects Mogadishu and Marka and the rest of Lower Shabelle Districts which was cut off for more than one year because of the tribal conflicts and road was controlled by clans Militiamen.

Furthermore, we facilitated and allowed two United Nations missions visits to Marka to make humanitarian and security assessments in Marka Lower, Shabelle Region; in which they have finished successfully.

Appeals

We appeal to the Somali Government and International Community to respect, the wishes and determination of the people of Lower Shaballe and Middle Regions; "which they formed their own administration known as Shabelle State”.

We also appeal to the International Community; Governments and AMISOM not to interfere with the internal and clans affairs of Somalia and be natural, because this matter is very delicate and sensitive.

"We are not Al-shabaab”;  "We are not Al-shabaab”; "We are not Al-Shabaab” we need out rights which the Somali Federal Constitution gives us as the citizen of the Somali Federal Republic; and the determination and wishes of the people of the two regions to be respected; in which they have democratically formed their administration and elected their leaders.

In conclusion: We are ready to collaborate with the Somali Federal Government as well as the International Community to resolve the disputes, but we are not ready to compromise over the future of our people and the responsibilities which they have bestowed upon us.

Abukar Abdi Osman

President of Shabelle State of Somalia