Matthew Bryden

Matthew Bryden
Bryden at the GPP-COPE Seminar on "Somali Islamic Movements: Going Global?" on 12 May 2010
Born	1967 Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Coordinator of the United Nations Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group
Known for	Research and analysis of Somali affairs

Matthew Bryden is an analyst who has been involved with several organizations working in and for Africa, and he has specialized in Somali affairs. He is a coordinator of the UN Security Council's Monitoring Group which monitors the flow of arms in and out of Somalia.^[1] His nomination to the post caused controversy due to his support for independent statehood for Somaliland. Bryden has edited a book of essays on Somaliland. He is a Canadian national but is known to carry a Somaliland passport.

Early life & education

Bryden was born in Canada in 1967 and attended McGill University between 1985-1988. He is currently married to Ubax Bryden, a Somali. Together, they have three children, two sons and a daughter and currently reside in Nairobi, Kenya.^[2]

Career

Throughout his career, Bryden has written and published numerous reports and articles on Somali affairs. He has also been quoted several times in his capacity as an analyst and worker in organizations centered on African politics. He has worked for aid organizations in Somalia since 1989. His earliest work was as a relief coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Somalia ^[3]

1990's

After that he was a consultant to the United Nations’ Development Programme: Emergency Unit for Ethiopia. In this capacity, he produced several reports on the status of certain territories, including situation reports on Mogadishu and Afar National Regional State. In the latter, he wrote “At best, the Afar National Regional State (Region 2) is poignant testimony to the emptiness of past commitments, by both governments and aid agencies, to the development of Ethiopia. At worst, the region’s historical neglect and relative underdevelopment implies a legacy of imperial exploitation and exclusion from whatever progress other parts of the country have enjoyed.”^[4]

In 1996, he wrote for Dutch newspapers, Groene Amsterdammer and Truow. A 1997 piece by Mark Bowden in the Philadelphia Inquirer recounts Bryden’s experience and reaction to the military operation to capture Somalian General Mohamed Farrah Aidid. On June 5, 1993, a battle between Aidid’s forces and U.N. forces ended with 24 Pakistani soldiers killed and 57 wounded, resulting in the U.S. led operation to attack a safe house where it was believed that Aidid was hiding. Bryden “regarded the attempt to arrest Aidid as a mistake” and felt pity for those tasked with finding him in the complex and violent streets of Mogadishu. ^[5]

2000's and current

In 2004, Bryden became a senior analyst with International Crisis Group, a Brussels based think-tank and research organization. The ICG describes itself as “an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict.”^[6] Within this organization, he was also the Horn of Africa project director.

In 2007, Bryden participated in the Oslo Forum,^[7] which regularly convenes for participants “to share their experiences, identify challenges and reflect on their own and others' practice.”^[8] In his capacity as an analyst at the ICG, Bryden published several reports and was quoted in various articles regarding politics in the Horn of Africa, mainly Somalia. In an October 11, 2004 article titled Africa Worries Continue Over Somalia, Despite New President, Bryden was quoted, discussing the election of Abdullah Yusaf Ahmed as president of Somalia. ^[9].

In 2008, he was appointed to the UN Security Council's Monitoring Group responsible for overseeing the arms embargo in Somalia. He continues to serve as coordinator of the United Nation's Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group.^[10]

Controversy

The UN Security Council, the African Union, the Arab League, and the international community at large, confirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Somalia.^[1] In 2008, Bryden was appointed to the UN Security Council's Monitoring Group responsible for overseeing the arms embargo in Somalia. Bryden has identified himself with the secessionist enclave in NW Somalia, Somaliland, lobbying for its recognition internationally.^[11] Supporters of a unified Somalia were angered by the nomination, accusing the UN and Bryden of undermining efforts to promote peace in the region in order to further the cause of Somaliland independence.^[1] The Somali Mission to the UN issued a statement expressing "very serious concerns about Mr. Matt Bryden as a fair and independent expert." These concerns have led many to question the neutrality of reports from the Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group (SEMG), which regularly accuse the Puntland Government leadership of corruption.^[12]

Bryden has made it clear that he supports Somaliland’s separation and independence. As Director of the African Program at the ICG, he oversaw in 2006 the preparation and publication of reports promoting the breakup of Somalia and the recognition of Somaliland.^[1] Various articles have been published expressing concerns as to Bryden’s potential biases.^{[1][13][14][11][15]} Among them is a 2006 article in response to an ICG report by Bryden, claiming it is not objective and “is full of irrelevant legal arguments and precedents for the dismemberment of a homogeneous country of Somalia.”^[13] The authors believe Bryden is biased and note his regular attendance at functions supporting the recognition of Somaliland as evidence. Also in 2006 an article by Mohamoud Oogle expresses concern over Bryden’s work as director of the United Nations-funded project for the Horn of Africa. He stated that the project’s intention was “to contribute towards the peace and reconciliation process in the strive-torn country.” However, he believes that “Bryden has gone out of his way to hinder Somalia’s recovery, unity and stability by pursing non-project, anti-Somalia agendas.”^[14]

Publications

• Rebuilding Somaliland: Issues and Possibilities, 2005
• Somalia and Somaliland: Envisioning a dialogue on the question of Somali unity, 2004 [1]
• The Banana Test: Is Somaliland Ready for Recognition, 2003 [2]
• Report of the United Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea Submitted in Accordance with Resolution 1916, 2010, coauthor [3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Saryan, Said A.. "Nomination of Somalia's Secessionist's Poster Boy, Matt Bryden". Huraan online. huraan online. http://hiiraan.com/op2/2008/july/nomination_of_somalia_s_secessionist_s_poster_boy_matt_bryden.aspx. Retrieved 23 September 2011. 
2. ^ "police-ka sida Gaarka". oodweynenews.com. oodweynenews.com. http://oodweynenews.com/news/37070-police-ka-sida-gaarka-ah-u-tababaran-ayaa-weerar-kedis-ah-ku-qaaday-guri-ku-yaala-xaafada-westville-ee-magaalada-durban-ee-dalka-safrica.html. Retrieved 23 September 2011. 
3. ^ Canadians helping with relief work in famine-hit Somalia, Hamilton Spectator, September 17, 1992
4. ^ Bryden, Matthew. "Situation report on Region 2 (Afar National Regional State)". http://www.africa.upenn.edu/eue_web/AFAR1A.htm. Retrieved November 2011. 
5. ^ Bowden, Mark. "How a relief mission ended in a firefight". http://inquirer.philly.com/packages/somalia/dec14/analysis14.asp. Retrieved November 2011. 
6. ^ "About Crisis Group". http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/about.aspx. Retrieved November 2011. 
7. ^ "OSLOforum07 Final list of speakers and discussants". Oslo Forum. http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/UD/Vedlegg/oslo%20forum%20deltakerliste%20(2).pdf. Retrieved November 2011. 
8. ^ "About Oslo forum". Oslo Forum. http://www.osloforum.org/. Retrieved November 2011. 
9. ^ Majtenyi, Cathy (11 October 2004). "Africa Worries Continue Over Somalia, Despite New President". 
10. ^ Bryden, Matthew. [http://www.enoughproject.org/files/Bryden_SomaliaFamine%20Brief_final_0.pdf "Somalia’s Famine is Not Just a Catastrophe, It’s a Crime"]. http://www.enoughproject.org/files/Bryden_SomaliaFamine%20Brief_final_0.pdf. Retrieved November 2011. 
11. ^ ^{a b} "Press release - Appointment of Matt Bryden". NSUM. NSUM. http://n-sum.org/?q=node/11. Retrieved 23 September 2011. 
12. ^ http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Press_Releases_32/Speech_of_the_President_of_Puntland_at.shtml
13. ^ ^{a b} "The ICG Report and its negative implications for Somali Unity". Hiiraan Online. http://hiiraan.com/op/2006/jun/Qarshe-Timacadde030606.aspx. Retrieved November 2011. 
14. ^ ^{a b} Oogle, Mohamoud. "Matt Bryden: Enemy in Disguise". http://www.wardheernews.com/Articles_06/feb/06_Matt%20Bryden_Enemy%20in%20disguise_M-Oogle.html. Retrieved November 2011. 
15. ^ Salah, Salah. "UN Monitoring Group for Somalia deploys baseless allegations backed by discredited sources". http://www.waayaha.net/view.php?articleid=10240. Retrieved November 2011.