Comment on Somali Nationalists' Rejection of OAU Resolution

SOURCE: Radio Mogadishu in Somali 1700 gmt Date: 9 July 1981

Text of commentary

BODY:

The Western Somali Liberation Front [WSLF] condemned the OAU's resolution on the

Abyssinian-colonized areas. That is the topic of our commentary written by Muhammad Arab (?Falah Falah) and read by Yusuf Ali Samatur. The WSLF termed the OAU's resolution on the crisis in the Horn of Africa as a concoction of lies, not based on the real situation and far from the truth of the long- standing problems in the Horn of Africa - the problem between colonizer and colonized. The AFP and Reuter news agencies yesterday reported that the Secretary General of the WSLF had declared the stand of the liberation movement and condemned the so-called resolution on the Horn of Africa by the OAU. The Liberation Front of the Western Somalis stated that the OAU committee appointed on the Western Somali issue had not fulfilled its obligation: the committee members were required to visit the crisis area, they were supposed to review the plight and problems of those colonized people, and to look into the best ways of solving the longstanding dispute which dates back centuries. For that reason the WSLF has rejected and condemned the manner in which the Western Somali issue on the agenda was conducted at the recent OAU summit conference. The WSLF's Secretary General said the world should be aware that such a poorly- conducted issue would not achieve any peaceful result and the people of Western Somalia would continue struggling for their legitimate rights of self-determination whether the OAU passes resolutions that are favourable to the Abyssinian colonizers or not. The French news agency, AFP, reported that the WSLF Secretary General said the OAU's Nairobi resolution was aimed at pleasing the Amharas only. The plight of the people whom the Amharas have ruled for centuries had not been taken into consideration. Scrutiny of the OAU resolution and the plight of the people of Western Somalia clearly shows that Africa has not yet realized its obligation and is not prepared to settle such disputes, said the WSLF Secretary General. The Secretary General added that the crisis and tension in many parts of Africa could not be settled by looking at the matter from only one angle. The African nations since the early 60s have witnessed several border clashes but have only passed resolution and made statements from their respective capitals without taking any action. The border clashes between independent African states are the work of the colonialists. The future stability and peace of Africa were not taken into account when the borders of the countries were delineated. The whole aim of the colonizers was to make Africa the base of crises and disputes, so that a country would need the assistance of its former colonial masters to defend it from another African country. The 50 independent African countries shared common problems, such as border disputes, the sole aim behind which was to create differences and permanent friction between African states. This friction and those disputes serve only to undermine the unity and stability of Africa. It is unfortunate that Africans have failed to expose the colonial plans geared towards creating permanent friction in the whole continent. We see various regional groupings in the world whose aims are to strengthen the economic capacity of those regions. The regional and ethnical groupings of the world are aimed at achieving co-operation and strengthening and consolidating economic ties based on equality and justice. While the world is doing everything possible to bring its people closer together, Africa cannot solve disputes which are minor compared to what is happening in other parts of the world. Africa has become the home of leaders of terror gangs and dictators and a new market for arms. The biggest shame facing Africa today is that other people are discussing and trying to solve the plight of the African refugees created by those dictators and leaders of terror gangs. Qadhafi is now striving to be the next OAU Chairman while the blood he has shed is still damp. Similarly, Mengistu, who has wiped out more than three generations of Ethiopian society and continues to use napalm bombs against those he colonizes, has been given a place among African leaders. The crisis and tension in the Horn of Africa can only be solved by granting the right of self-determination to the people of the Horn of Africa.

Source: Radio Mogadishu