Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Somali Institute of Peace Research (SIPR) Welcomes the UNPOS’ Statement on Promoting Peace and Dialogue

Press Release:
No. 01/11

MINNESOTA, 03 June 2011—Somali Institute of Peace Research (SIPR) today welcomed a statement by SRSG Opening Remarks to ICG conference in Kampala for promoting dialogue and inclusiveness.

"Ambassador Mahiga’s statement is in line with the peaceful culture and aspirations for millions of Somalis in and around the world,” said Sakawdin Mohamed, SIPR's Executive Director and Co-founder. "If peace is intended to be a reality in Somalia, the Somali leadership must arrive at an understanding to make the Mogadishu meeting a landmark success for all Somalis.”

Somalia has been in a perpetual state of anarchy since the civil war began there in 1989 and over 20 years Somali violence have resulted a lot of victims and hardships for Somalis. The absence of peace in Somalia has created an environment which facilitates the creation of issues such as piracy, a problem that extends the violence and disruption beyond Somalia’s borders. "The truth is there for everyone to see," he said. "The time has arrived to resolve Somali problems with a homegrown solution, and to involve the genuine or the true stakeholders of peace in Somalia.”

The absence of peace followed by the lack of political commitment, Somalis risk to loose all of the little progress that is being made thus far. Ongoing fighting continues to generate internally displaced persons and refugees. Over 1.49 million Somalis are displaced by the lack or the absence of peace. Continued political stalemate will continue to increase the Somali sufferings.

The sad reality that exists in Somalia is, “According to the most recent country-wide needs assessment, 2.4 million people, one in three Somalis, are in need of humanitarian assistance. This is a 20 percent increase in the number of vulnerable compared to the second half of 2010. More than 55,000 people have been displaced due to the drought and the fighting since December 2010. As rain performance was not adequate in most of Southern Somalia, including the main maize producing regions, Somalia is expected to slide deeper into a crisis leading to an increase in the number of Somalis in need of assistance from the current 2.4 million.” SRSG statement!

SIPR plans to mark the World International Peace Day on September 21, 2011. This year's SIPR theme for the event is “May Peace and Coexistence Prevail in Somalia”. The objective is to draw public attention to the plight of the peace-loving people of Somalia and to provide an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. The International Peace Day was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly.

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