For Immediate Release

We, the Northern Somalis for Peace and Unity (NSPU) are pleasedto welcome and rejoice along with other peace-loving Somalis, the birth of Awdal State.

We congratulate our Awdalite brothers and sisters for exercising their Allah-given right to self-determinationby choosing Somali unity over the oppressive yoke of the one-clan-secession-project, branding itself as "Somaliland".

This bold action by our Awdalite brothers and sisters effectively puts adeath nail on the coffin of the clan-based secession project, the ultimate aim of whichis the dismemberment of Somalia into weak clan-based proxy fiefdoms in the service of foreign interests.

The purveyors of secession believe that "Somalia must die in order for their clan to thrive"; one cannot get more sinister and hopeless than that.It is, therefore, our fervent hope thatour brothersand sisters in the Northwest Region of the country will come to their senses, abandon that sinking ship and join the bandwagon of national unity.

The forces of national unity are growing from strength to strength and will ultimately prevail. NSPU pledges to work with the leaders of Awdal State and other pro-unity forces towards the realization of national unity under a democratic justice-driven governance.

Somalia Lives!

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Communication & Public Relations Unit

NORTHERN SOMALIS FOR PEACE & UNITY (NSPU) is a grass-roots Somali advocacy organization with Branches in Somalia, United Arab Emirates, Canada, USA, UK, and South Africa. We are dedicated to the promotion of peace and unity among the long suffering people of Somalia. We believe the ‘Somalia problem’ can only be dealt with within the framework of a holistic strategic approach aimed at the empowerment of a central government to rebuild national democratic governance institutions and restore law and order throughout the country. NSPU believes the balkanization of Somalia is a recipe for future conflicts and a bleak future for the Somali people, who are bonded by ethnicity, language, religion, and shared centuries-oldculture and traditions.