| Matthew Bryden | |
|---|---|
Bryden at the GPP-COPE Seminar on "Somali Islamic Movements: Going Global?" on 12 May 2010 |
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| 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 was 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.
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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] A 2010 biography states that he is "currently a doctoral candidate at King’s College London, Department of War Studies, researching contemporary jihadist movements in Somalia."[3]
Bryden was formerly a Canadian Forces Reserve Officer.[3] Throughout his career, he 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 began working in Somalia in 1990 for the United Nations and has since worked in various capacities for non-governmental organizations, the United Nations and donor governments.[3] His earliest work was as a relief coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Somalia. [4]
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.”[5]
From 1992 to 1993, he was Special Advisor to the Canadian Ambassador on Somali Affairs. In 1996, he established a Somali program called WSP-International, which stands for War-torn Societies Project. Around the same time, he co-founded three Somali think-tanks.[3]
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. [6]
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.”[7] Within this organization, he was also the Horn of Africa project director, and held the position until 2006.
In 2007, Bryden participated in the Oslo Forum,[8] which regularly convenes for participants “to share their experiences, identify challenges and reflect on their own and others' practice.”[9] 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. [10].
From 2007 to 2008, he acted as an advisor on Somali affairs to USAID and the U.S. embassy in Nairobi for Development Alternatives Inc (DAI).[3]
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.[11]
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.[12] 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.[13]
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][14][15][12][16] 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.”[14] 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.”[15]
A Somalia Report article describes another instance of bias. On December 10, 2010, the Somaliland government announced that "during an emergency landing they had seized a mysterious plane containing weapons and mercenaries bound for Puntland",[17] prompting Bryden and members of the UN Monitoring Group to investigate. Witnesses state that Bryden was threatening two captives for not cooperating, but it was discovered that they were telling the truth that they were journalists heading to Puntland to report on anti-piracy training. It was also discovered that the plane was making a routine stop, had no weapons or mercenaries, and was part of an anti-piracy program on which Bryden and other UN officials had already been briefed. The Somalia report states that the incident "sabotaged" the anti-piracy program and, speaking of Bryden, claims that the incident "showed a clear bias towards protecting the interests of the breakaway nation of Somaliland and not aggressively supporting anti piracy training in Puntland."[17]