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BiyoKulule Online Bosaso, Somalia |
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BiyoKulule Online Bosaso, Somalia |
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1967-68 Somali Border Agreements [1] Roobdoon Forum Chronicles November 09, 2005 Somali-Ethiopia Border Agreements Preliminary Agreements on Territorial Dispute KINSHASA MEETING SEPTEMBER 1967 At the Organization of African Unity Heads of State Conference in Kinshasa during September, 1967, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and the Somali Prime Minister, Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, agreed that Ministers from both countries should meet to prepare groundwork for a future conference of the respective Heads of State with a view to resolving their long standing border dispute [2]. In accordance with this agreement, a Somali delegation, led by the Minister of Interior, Mr. Yasin Nur Hassan, visited Addis Ababa on September 19th, 1967. A communiqué issued at the end of the talks said Somali delegation had two meetings with the Emperor and that these exploratory talks were aimed at “paving the way for a future meeting between the Heads of State of the two countries to discuss major issues.” ADDIS ABABA AGREEMENT SEPTEMBER 1967 The
Somali and Ethiopian delegations: MOGADISHU AGREEMENT FEBRUARY 1968
As a sequel to this visit, an Ethiopian
delegation led by the Foreign Minister, Alo Ketema Yifru, arrived in
Mogadishu on February 5th, 1968. A joint communiqué issued on February 8th
stated that agreement had been reached as follows: (v) both sides re-affirmed the previous agreements reached in Addis Ababa (see above) that nationals of either country who might have been held against their will, would be permitted to leave at any time it they so wished; (vi) both
delegations expressed great satisfaction at the progress achieved in the
improvement of relations between the two countries and agreed to continue
the talks in Ethiopia at a date to be agreed upon through normal diplomatic
channels; ADDIS ABABA AGREEMENT SEPTEMBER 1968
The Somali Prime Minister, Mr. Mohamed Haji
Ibrahim Egal, visited Addis Ababa from September 1st to 5th, at the
invitation of the Emperor, for official talks with the Ethiopian Government.
A communiqué issued after the talks said that the two Governments had agreed
as follows: (ii) The two Governments have agreed to give over flight rights, and an agreement to this end will be concluded soon. In the meantime, the Imperial Ethiopian Government has graciously permitted the Somali Airlines to use the existing international routes. (iii) In conviction that the suspension of the emergency regulations would contribute to the strengthening of good neighbourly relations between the two sister-countries, the Imperial Ethiopian Government has agreed to suspend existing emergency regulations along its border with Somalia as of September 16th, 1968. (iv) The two Governments have finalized the settlement of public and private property claims submitted by both sides. The exchange of property will take place at Tug Wajaleh on September 25th, 1961. (v) (a) The Imperial Ethiopian Government has submitted a draft cultural treaty which will be studied by the competent authorities in Somalia prior to its signature in the near future. (b) The two Governments have agreed to open forthwith negotiations over establishment of a telecommunications agreement. (c) The two Governments have agreed to conclude a trade agreement. In the meantime traditional trade between the two countries in the border areas will continue. (vi) The two Governments have reaffirmed the usefulness of the Special Joint Commissions set up by the two Governments in Mogadishu in February, 1968 (see above). They have further agreed to establish a Joint Ministerial Consultative Committee which will meet periodically to discuss major and miner problems between the two countries and submit recommendations to their respective Governments (vii) Both sides expressed - ear satisfaction at the progress achieved so far in the improvement o, relations between the two countries. (viii) The two sides emphasized that these talks are of an exploratory nature aimed at the eventual settlement of major issues. (ix) H.E. the Prime Minister and members of the Somali delegation expressed their gratitude to His Imperial Majesty, the Government and people of Ethiopia for their warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to them during their stay.
Somali-Kenya Border Agreement Rapprochement over Territorial Dispute KINSHASA AGREEMENT SEPTEMBER 1967 The Somali and Kenya Governments agreed during the Organization of African Unity Conference at Kinshasa in September, 1967, to accept an invitation from the Zambian president, Dr. Kaunda, to hold a meeting in October “to work out ways of settling their differences and establishing normal co-operation.” [3] The following agreement was concluded between the Somali and Kenya Governments at Kinshasa: (i) Both Governments have expressed their desire to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the spirit of Paragraph 3 of Article III of the OAU Charter; (ii) The two Governments have further undertaken to resolve any outstanding differences between them in the spirit of Paragraph 4 of Article III of the OAU Charter; (iii) The two Governments have pledged to ensure maintenance of peace and security on both sides of the border by preventing destruction of human life and property; (iv) Furthermore, the two Governments have agreed to refrain from conducting hostile propaganda through mass media such as radio and the Press against each other;
(v) The two Governments have accepted the kind invitation of President Kaunda of Zambia to meet in Lusaka, during the later part of October, 1967, in order to improve, intensify, and consolidate all forms of co-operation. The OAU conference, in a resolution recording this agreement, expressed "its sincere gratitude and congratulations to President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia as well as the Governments of Kenya and Somalia for their positive efforts to overcome differences in a fraternal manner." The conference requested "the Governments of Kenya and Somalia, as parties to the declaration, and the Government of the Republic of Zambia, as host and convener, to submit a progress report on the proposed meeting in Lusaka to the Secretary-General of the OAU." ARUSHA CONFERENCE OCTOBER 1967 President Kaunda convened a conference at Arusha (Tanzania) on October 28th which was attended by President Kenyatta (Kenya) and Prime Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Egal (Somali), with President Nyerere (Tanzania) and President Obote (Uganda) officiating as observers. President Kaunda took the chair. During the conference, which lasted seven hours, officials of the three delegations accompanying the three Heads of State and Government, were asked to leave the hall from time to time whilst Presidents Kaunda, Kenyatta, and Prime Minister Egal conferred on their own. The final session, which approved a communiqué, was also attended by President Nyerere and President Obote as observers. President Kenyatta thanked the Somali Prime Minister for requesting that he, Mr. Kenyatta, should lead the Kenya delegation.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING The following is the text of the "Memorandum of Understanding" signed by the President of Kenya and the Somali Prime Minister on October 28th and witnessed by the President of Zambia: Desirous of consolidating the Kinshasa Declaration on Kenya/Somalia Relations and recognizing the need to restore normal and peaceful relations between Kenya and Somalia, the two leaders reached agreement on the following points: (i) Both Governments will exert all efforts and do their utmost to create good-neighbourly relations between Kenya and Somalia, in accordance with the OAU Charter. (ii) The two Governments agree that the interests of the people of Kenya and Somalia were not served by the continuance of tension between the two countries. (iii) They therefore reaffirm their adherence to the declaration of the OAU conference at Kinshasa (see above), a copy of which is attached to this memorandum of understanding. (iv) In order to facilitate a speedy solution to the dispute and to ensure the maintenance of continued stood relations, both Governments have agreed to: (a) the maintenance of peace and security on both sides of the border by preventing destruction of human life and property; (b) refrain from conducting hostile propaganda through mass media such as radio and the press, against each other, and encourage propaganda which promotes the development and continuance of friendly relations between the two countries;
(c) the gradual suspension of any
emergency regulations imposed on either side of the border;
Compiled by: A/fatah S. Faamo Roobdoon Forum Toronto, Canada. _________________________________________________________________________ References: |
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