For general information on the relationship between the Somali Democratic Alliance (SDA) (Gadarboursi group) and the Somali National Movement (SNM), as well as their respective roles in the current Somaliland government, please refer to Responses to Information Requests SOM15846.E, SOM15473.E, SOM15318.E, SOM15317.E, SOM11602 and SOM9552. These documents are currently available at your Regional Documentation Centre.

According to Africa Events, Mohamed Farah Abdullahi is a leader of the SDA (Apr. 1993, 6). The assistant director of the Centre for African Studies at the University of Florida at Gainsville stated that the leader of the SDA is Mohammed Farah `Hashari' (18 Feb. 1994). The source also stated that the SDA split in two, with the larger faction opposing the breakaway of Somaliland (ibid.). The smaller faction supports the secession of Somaliland from Somalia, and is represented within the current Somaliland government (ibid.). The source observed that there is little cooperation and few links between the two groups (ibid.). The SDA does not have a written or stated agenda, except that it is opposed to the secession of Somaliland from Somalia (ibid.). The information provided by the assistant director was corroborated by a professor of political science at the University of Syracuse (18 Feb. 1994).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Africa Events [London]. April 1993. Vol. 9, No. 4. "Somalia: One More Chance."

The assistant director of the Centre for African Studies, University of Florida, Gainsville. 18 February 1994. Telephone interview.

Professor of political science, University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY. 18 February 1994. Telephone interview.

Africa Events [London]. April 1993. Vol. 9, No. 4. "Somalia: One More Chance," pp. 6-7.