Communiqué of Participants at the London Peace and development Conference

October 23, 2010

WE members of the Ethiopian Somali community in the UK met in London to discuss the significance of the peace agreement signed between the Ethiopian government on one side and UWSLF and ONLF on the other.

Our conference is a milestone in bringing together the Ethiopian Diaspora Somali community to discuss the progress made in the region, particularly focusing on the major development activities which brought tangible changes in the livelihoods of our people.

The briefings given by the high level delegation on the political , economic and social developments unfolding in our region and especially the Five year Growth and Transformation Plan has indeed given us a full insight to the bright future of the people of the region and the country at large.

We therefore,

Express our support to the agreement signed between the Ethiopian Government on the one hand and the UWSLF and ONLF on the other and pledge to safeguard the hard won peace and stability.

Confirm our determination to contribute to the compliance and full implementation of the terms of the agreement.

Deplore and condemn external forces, spoilers like the Eritrean Government, bent on destabilizing the region and hamper our development efforts.

Call upon all political actors of the region to provide the requisite leadership needed at this historical juncture.

Express our commitment to collectively and individually to mobilize the necessary human, material and financial resources to consolidate the democratic basis of our society and promote sustainable development. Underline the importance of convening periodic consultation conferences both in the region and abroad to give momentum to the peace and development agenda, and in this regard, we call upon the regional administration to insure the implementation of this recommendation.

Urge the Somali Regional State to draw plans for familiarization trips which will give the youth, scholars, business people and elders in the Diaspora the opportunity to know more about their region so as to enable them contribute their share to the national Growth and Transformation plan.

Call upon development partners of Ethiopia to live up to their responsibilities by taking measures against anti-peace groups, who use their respective capitals as a base for mobilization of resources for their terrorist act, which is targeted to undermine the peace and stability of Ethiopia.

Commend all those who have made the London Peace and Development conference a success.
London, UK, October 23rd, 2010