Radio Mogadishu Voice of the Somali Republic in Somali
1700 GMT 2 Aug 1996
USC-SSA [United Somali Congress-Somali Salvation Alliance], USC-PM [United Somali Congress-Peace Movement] and USC-SNA [United Somali Congress-Somali National Alliance] today, 2 August, held a meeting under the chairmanship of Mr. Ali Mahdi Muhammad, the President of the Somali Republic, who is also the chairman of the USC-SSA, to discuss the future of the Somali people following the death on 1 August of General Muhammad Farah Aidid, who was an instigator o the civil wars and the stumbling block to the efforts to find a solution to the Somali issue.
After lengthy deliberations the participants of the meeting issued the following declaration:
1. Gen. Muhammad Farah Hasan Aidid, who was responsible for the series of civil wars in the country over a period of four years and eight months, starting from 17 November 1991 to 1 August 1996, died of injuries sustained during a battle in Makka and Medina with the peace-supporting coalition of forces of the USC-SSA, USC-PM and USC- SNA;
2. The Somali people, in general, and warring communities, in particular, are called upon to settle their differences peacefully. The Somali people are fed up with renewed civil war, considering the destruction inherited from the past civil war;
3. The USC-SSA, the USC-PM and USC-SNA, who share the same principles, will continue their efforts aimed at reviving Somali unity and restoring lost nationhood;
4. Aidid supporters are called upon to end the policy of self- proclamation and the use of the gun and are instead called upon to sit at the negotiating table with a view to resolving the Somali issue. The organizations also propose to hold a national conference and then form a broad-based government. The USC-SSA, USC-PM and USC-SNA appeal to the international community to provide us with humanitarian aid and to assist in national reconciliation.
