No government of "warring faction leaders", rights activists say

Somali human rights activists have stressed that the outcome of the ongoing Somali peace conference in Kenya should not be a "government of warring faction leaders".

In a declaration, issued by the London-based Amnesty International organisation, activists from 23 organisations who met in Hargeysa earlier this month, said they would increase their struggle against human rights abuses in Somalia.

These, according to the declaration, include arbitrary killings, torture, arbitrary detention and kidnapping. The declaration asserted that they would also work for the equal rights of all, with full protection for vulnerable groups such as women and minorities.

The statement urged the Somali political authorities to "publicly recognise the legitimate role of human rights defenders in the protection and promotion of human rights".

"The outcome of the peace talks should not be a government of warring faction-leaders giving themselves total impunity for their gross violations of human rights," the statement said. "Somali political leaders who believe in peace and human rights must unite now to stop the cease-fire violations, arbitrary killings, rape, kidnapping and financial extortion."

"The regional and international sponsors of the peace talks must strive harder to secure this commitment and see it in action as a basic pre-requisite for any new transitional government," the declaration added.

Participants in the Hargeysa meeting included the Peace and Human Rights Network, Coalition of Grassroots Women's' Organisations, Dr Ismail Jumale Human Rights Organisation from Mogadishu; Dulmidiid Centre for Human Rights from Puntland; Isha Human Rights Organisation from Baidoa; Kisima Peace and Human Rights Organisation from Kismayo; and Nagaad Women's Coalition, Hornwatch and several others from Somaliland.

Click here for full text declaration