Somaliland’s initial years were difficult, and ‘Abdarahman Tur’s administration did not succeed in generating sufficient income, from internal or external sources, to finance an effective government, while the banditry of roving armed bands and independent militias undermined public security. The Grand Conference of National Reconciliation, which opened at Borama on 24 January 1993 and lasted over four months, enabled key issues to be extensively debated and consensus to be built up slowly by the national committee (guurti) of 150 elders, who were delegated to vote. During these deliberations an estimated 2,000 other people attended and participated, as Somalis do, from time to time in the discussions and debates. Most of the costs were met by local Somalis, with some slight assistance from foreign sources. U.N.O.S.O.M., which seemed committed to a unified Somali state, did not provide any support; nor, more scandalously, did it make any contribution to Somalilands determined demilitarization programme for militias.

I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Som…, loc. 656