The Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC), 2001–2004

In short

"At a press conference in Addis Ababa on 23 March, the Somali leaders who had met in Awasa announced the formation of the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC). They stated that its aim would be to hold an 'all-inclusive national reconciliation conference within six months to form a representative Transitional Government of National Unity'," the UN Secretary-General reported in 2001 (UN Security Council, S/2001/963, para. 13).

Its "five co-chairmen" kept up a "categorical refusal to recognize the Transitional National Government" (S/2002/189, para. 5). For the governments of these years, see the transitional governments, 2000–2012.

Founding, 2001

From the UN Secretary-General's report of October 2001 (S/2001/963, paras. 7–15):

• Awasa. "From early March, the Mogadishu faction leaders and the leaders who had met in El-Berde gathered in Addis Ababa and subsequently convened in Awasa, Ethiopia." Ethiopian officials told the UN the aim was "a common platform to facilitate discussions with the TNG", and denied any plan for "a parallel government".
• The TNG's view. TNG leaders "saw the meeting in Awasa as part of an Ethiopian plan to undermine the TNG". The Prime Minister asked the Security Council to act against "Ethiopian intervention"; Ethiopia rejected the accusations.
• First disputes. SRRC and Puntland "immediately denounced" the TNG's National Commission for Reconciliation and Property Settlement in May 2001.
• The promised conference. In September 2001 SRRC told the UN its conference "was postponed and would now be convened late in 2002".
• The UN's comparison. "Both the TNG and SRRC claim to be national, multi-clan alliances. Both have stated that they wish to pursue national reconciliation. Both include personalities who were prominent in the previous Siad Barre regime. Neither seems to disagree on any major political issue" (para. 59).

Refusing the TNG, 2001–2002

From the UN Secretary-General's report of February 2002 (S/2002/189, paras. 5–17 and 30–33):

• Nairobi talks, November 2001. SRRC leaders in Ethiopia said "they had resolved never to sit with the 'Arta faction' as long as it claimed to be the Government", with Abdiqasim Salad Hassan as President. See Abdiqasim Salad Hassan.
• Al-Itihaad claims. SRRC and Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf "alleged that the leadership of the Transitional National Government is pro-Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya and that it was linked to al-Qa'idah". The TNG President denied any link.
• A split. At talks in Kenya in December 2001, the TNG signed an agreement with "the Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council, led by Osman 'Atto' (none of the five co-chairmen of the Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council was present)". See Osman Ali Atto. A UN report of 2003 lists both "the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council" and "the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council — Mogadishu" (S/2003/636, para. 42).
• Bay and Bakool. These regions were held by "an alliance of the Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council and the Rahanwein Resistance Army". See the Rahanweyn Resistance Army.
• Forces. "The forces of the Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council, under the command of General 'Morgan', are estimated to have 5,000 to 8,000 militia in training for an offensive against Kismayo and possibly Brava and/or Merka." See Mohamed Said Hersi Morgan.

Into the Kenya talks, 2002

From the UN Secretary-General's report of June 2002 (S/2002/709, paras. 4–22):

• 1 March 2002. After meeting at Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, the Council said "it would participate in the IGAD national reconciliation conference for Somalia to be held at Nairobi". The TNG Prime Minister was concerned that the Council and Ethiopia "expected the conference to start from scratch, rather than building on the achievements of the Arta peace process".
• Equal footing. The TNG and Djibouti wanted the TNG accepted as the government, while "the Somali Restoration and Reconciliation Council and Ethiopia are of the view that all the Somali parties should participate on the basis of equality".
• 1 April 2002. Hassan Mohamed Nur Shatigadud, chairman of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army and "one of the leaders of the Somali Restoration and Reconciliation Council", was named President of a new "South-Western Regional State of Somalia" covering Bay, Bakool, Gedo, Lower Shabelle, Middle Juba and Lower Juba. Some Council leaders, "such as General Abdullahi Aden Nur", opposed it.
• Fighting. In mid-February 2002, Council and Juba Valley Alliance militias fought at Bardere; General Morgan "was reported to have attacked the town but was repulsed". Renewed fighting between TNG supporters and the Council in Mogadishu, after a UN staff abduction, suspended UN operations, and "an estimated 1 million inhabitants of the city were thus denied access to critical assistance".

At the Kenya conference in 2003, "many other leaders belonging to the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council" took part throughout (S/2003/636, para. 5). The talks produced the Transitional Federal Parliament and Government in 2004. See the Transitional Federal Parliament.

Who suffered?

• People of Mogadishu, about 1 million of whom lost access to UN aid when fighting between the TNG and the Council resumed in 2002 (S/2002/709, para. 15).
• People of Bardere and Gedo, caught in fighting between the Council and the Juba Valley Alliance in 2002 (S/2002/709, para. 13).
• Children. The UN listed both SRRC and SRRC–Mogadishu among "Somali parties recruiting or using child soldiers" (S/2003/636, para. 42).

Sources differ

• The name. UN reports use "Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council", "Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council" and "Somali Restoration and Reconciliation Council".
• Ethiopia's role. The TNG called the Awasa meeting an Ethiopian plan to undermine it. Ethiopia denied planning "a parallel government" (S/2001/963).

Read the primary sources yourself

• UN Secretary-General, reports on Somalia: S/2001/963 (11 October 2001), PDF; S/2002/189 (21 February 2002), PDF; S/2002/709 (27 June 2002), PDF; S/2003/636 (10 June 2003), PDF.