The Somali American Community of Minnesota condemns the heinous and terrorist attack against innocent civilian populations in the town of Buuhoodle in Northeastern Somalia, the attack took place after the people of Sool, Sanaaq, and Cayn (SSC) came together to host a conference titled Khaatumo II in the historical town of Taleex, where they declared to establish an autonomous state within Somalia. SNM militias attacked the civilian population of Buuhoodle in the middle of the night; however the people of SSC managed to retake the town and push the Somali separatists out of town. We urge all Somali people to condemn such barbaric actions against innocent civilians, and we urge the international community, neighboring countries, and international human rights organizations to pressure the SNM- led Somaliland regime to halt all hostilities and hold them accountable for their crimes against humanity. We urge the Somali Transitional Federal Government and the United Nations Security Council take immediate action in dealing with the separatist Somaliland tribal militia who are committing crimes against humanity in Northern Somalia.

We condemn Axmed Maxamed Siilaanyo leader of the SNM, a terrorist group who has been committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Northern Somalia since 1990 after the overthrow of the Siad Bare government. He is among the last warlords still in Somalia; Siilaanyo is responsible for the death of tens of thousands of people in Awdal and SSC regions. SNM - (Somaliland military) is notorious for rape, torture, mutilation and deliberate killings of civilians. The SNM is synonymous with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) of Northern Uganda, and has been waging an identical campaign since the early 1990’s, after the collapse of the Somali State. Since 1990 the SNM has been systematically killing anyone against the separatists’ policy of Somaliland, thousands have fallen victim, simple because of their belief and principle of Unity with their Somali brethren.

The people of Awdal and SSC have been on a campaign to establish autonomous states within Somalia; the president of Awdal is currently residing in Mogadishu having talks with leaders of the TFG. Furthermore, the Khaatumo II conference is still ongoing in the historical town of Taleex where the leaders of SSC have announced this week the formation of a new autonomous state of Somalia.

We believe the people of Awdal and SSC have every right to self-determination and have every right to choose to stay with Somalia as they have already decided; we condemn Somaliland and their secessionist policy and their campaign to further destabilize Somalia. We urge all Somalis to come together as one and save the Somali union from further destruction and disintegration. We urge the international community especially the United States and the United Kingdom take immediate action in protecting the human rights of the civilian population of Northern Somalia from the SNM militias, and we urge the International Criminal Court immediately intervene and hold SNM-led Somaliland regime accountable for their war crimes and crimes against humanity.

-Somali American Community of Minnesota

Monday, January 16, 2012