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| Africa Horn |
| Top US diplomat for Africa meets Somaliland leader |
| 2008-02-04 |
| (SomaliNet) The top U.S. diplomat for Africa met with the leader of the breakaway Somali republic on Sunday to discuss security in the war-wracked Horn of Africa region, the highest ranking U.S. delegation to visit Somaliland, Reuters reports. U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer told reporters Washington would "continue working with Somaliland authorities on stability and peace," shortly after meeting President Dahir Kahin Rayale. Somaliland, in the northwestern corner of Somalia, broke away in 1991, when warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, and plunged the country into gun-fuelled anarchy. It argues it should be given sovereignty since it has held democratic elections and achieved stability that has eluded the rest of a country largely torn between rival warlords. But no nation has yet recognised Somaliland's claim to self-rule for fear of setting a precedent for other regions in Africa who might want to unilaterally declare autonomy. "We will continue to work with the leaders of the African Union to recognize the decision that they would make on Somaliland's recognition and independence," Frazer told reporters. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 Appears Bolton feels she buggered it up at the start: On his new book "Surrender Is Not an Option" (p. 347), John Bolton, former US ambassador to UN, writes: "For reasons I never understood, Frazer reversed course, and asked in early February to reopen the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission decision, which she had concluded was wrong, and award a major piece of disputed territory to Ethiopia. I was at a loss how to explain that to the Security Council, so I didn't." Later he wrote: "Ethiopia had agreed on a mechanism to resolve the border dispute in 2000 and was now welching on the deal."[4] On January 7, 2007, Frazer met with Somali political leaders in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss United States support for the interim Somali government.[5] Later that day she cancelled a planned trip to Mogadishu, Somalia, due to the media revealing the details of her itinerary and riots in the city the day before over a faulty disarmament plan. [6]The U.S. envoy, the highest ranking in 14 years, made a surprise visit to Somalia on April 7, 2007. She visited Ali Mohammed Ghedi and Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed to help with the national reconciliation of Somalia.[7] She is often seen as a peace advocate among Africans. Particularly, she is famous for condemning armed movements in Africa and in favor of peaceful opposition movements to bring democratic and social changes around the continent. On January 4, 2008, Frazer was sent by President George W. Bush to Kenya to help seek a resolution of that country's political dispute following the December 2007 presidential election, and she met with President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.[8] "W" appointee: Jendayi E. Frazer is a graduate of Stanford University, where she earned a B.A. in Political Science and African and African-American Studies, M.A. degrees in International Policy Studies and International Development Education, and a Ph.D. in Political Science. Dr. Frazer was a visiting fellow at the Center for International Security and Arms Control at Stanford University; a research associate at the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nairobi, Kenya; a member of the faculty of the Graduate School of International Studies, University of Denver; and editor of the journal Africa Today. Nothing found on where she came from. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-02-04 01:12 |