Sheik Saleh Habimana, Rwanda’s eminent Muslim cleric recently returned from Somaliland where he attended a peace initiative meeting for the African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL).

This was part of the fact finding, contact setting and solidarity mission to Somalia, a country that he says is so inspired by Rwanda’s recovery.

ACRL brings together all faiths on the African continent with the aim of solving conflict in the Horn of Africa through dialogue and peaceful means.

Along with other religious leaders from Uganda, Kenya, and Sudan, Habimana held several meetings with political and religious figures from the three semi-autonomous regions that make up Somalia. The religious leaders were hosted by His Excellence Dahir Rayale Kahin, the president of Somaliland.

Somaliland became autonomous from the rest of Somalia after the overthrow of Siad Barre, the last leader to head the country as one nation.

To date, Somaliland is the most successful and stable region in Somalia but has not been recognised by the international community as an independent nation.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Sheik Saleh Habimana shared in detail some of the issues discussed by the ACRL with officials from the government of Somalia.

He also answered questions on the special message that the Somalis sent to President Paul Kagame. Below are the excerpts from the interview.

ST: Somalia’s problem has dragged on for a long time and efforts to end the conflict have failed. What more can religious leaders suggest that has not been tried yet?

Habimana: Religious leaders believe that they have solutions to the existing troubles in Somalia because of the respect they command in worshipping centres, where they meet bigger audiences.

Through this channel, religious leaders can administer and inspire unity and patriotism among the congregations. This means our counterparts in Somalia have to go back to the roots of Somali tradition where religious leaders and tribal chiefs had always been the guardians of law and order in society.

We also discussed peace in Somalia with many stakeholders. By visiting the country, we were able to learn more about the conflict. This put us in a proper position to discuss with the officials from the government.

ST: What could be the cause of the reign of terror in Somalia?

Habimana: We were informed that Somali politics took a tribal and clan perspective which led to divisions, but this had changed since Siad Barre captured power.

Siad Barre introduced ideas of capitalism and socialism, which first divided the population. This saw the later detachment of some parts of Northern Kenya, Ethiopia and Eritrea from Somalia.

Ethiopia and Eritrea were also having war in Somalia which divided the Somalis. Later on, the September 11 attacks in the US ensured many radicals who began to flock Somalia; this also increased the troubles.

ST: Did the Somalis appreciate President Paul Kagame’s recent call to the international community to help end the conflict?

Habimana: The Somalis admire the good leadership in Rwanda and they appreciate it.

They gave me a special message to deliver to President Paul Kagame, which read in part: "…tell President Kagame as a leader who has been able to set up a strong emerging nation to come to our help and stop the conflict in Somalia.

We don’t know how he can do it but we know he is capable... His contribution to solving Somalia’s conflict-in whatever way he chooses will get us out of this big dilemma.”

This is a message that appreciated the President’s call and asked for more support. As a religious leader I promised to host Somalia’s religious leaders in Rwanda early next year to be able to learn and build on the positives in Rwanda; the delegation to visit will be made up of representatives from all regions of Somalia.

ST: How has Somaliland managed to avoid the terror and war affecting other parts of Somalia without international recognition?

Habimana: When Somaliland’s president walked us through the political history of Somalia, he said that after independence, Somalia had a dream of creating a greater nation united under one government. But that dream was not realised because of several factors.

In 1988, Siad Barre destroyed Somali’s second biggest city Hargeisa. In 1991, Somaliland seceded and rebuilt it as its capital after the fall of Siad Barre.

The fall of Siad Barre brought divisions in the country and many warlords that have ensured the country are examples of a failed state.

Somaliland has organized political leaders, religions and tribes. These united and formed civil institutions which ensured non-existence of warlords in the country.

ST: What are your impressions of Somaliland in comparison to the other parts of Somalia?

Habimana: For 16 years, Somaliland has not been recognised by the International Community but they have managed to create a self dependent economy, peaceful, stable and lively.

President Kahin told us that the story of his country can be used as an inspiration to the whole of Somalia; that it is possible to walk from destruction to prosperity.

It is also an inspiration that Africa can be self dependent without aid. Somaliland has the cheapest telecommunication costs in Africa.

While there, I could load airtime credit worth 2 US dollars and talk with my family for a very long while. To me, this is a great achievement.

ST: What can religious leaders do to help Somalia end the reign of the warlords?

Habimana: Somaliland president asked religious leaders to talk to the International Community to leave the destiny of Somalis in their own hands.

But for us to be effective in this endeavour, we need inclusiveness among all the stakeholders in Somalia. Religious leaders, politicians and tribal leaders are not united because of wars that have disorganized them. They have agencies reporting to the US, Bin Laden, Somali government, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

ST: What can the international community contribute to Somalia’s peace mission?

Habimana: Some say that the Somalis must be left to solve their own problems; the international community should come to help them implement the resolutions because nobody can be an expert on their own problems; a country which is built on clan and tribal lines!

Peace keepers must be fair and unbiased and those from conflicting countries should not be accepted. However, Rwanda is not among such countries. Unwanted peacekeepers from hostile countries to Somalia will fail.

Religious leaders are hopeful that the African Union Initiative can create a solution for our problems and the western world can only support this African initiative.

Ends