Somaliland Foreign policy

Somaliland with population of about 4million is an ex-British colony that willingly merged with the former Italian Somaliland at independence in 1960 to form Somali Republic but after military dictatorship of Mohamed S. Barre, Somaliland emerged as self declared Republic.

Somaliland Foreign policy based on:

1.      Cooperation among horn countries:

a.      Facilitation of communication, transportation, education and health.

2.      Regional security:

a.      Border security,

b.      Anti-terrorism activities,

c.       Piracy preventions

3.      Development and integration:

a.      Port utilization,

b.      Fish production

Core principles of Somaliland Foreign policy

Since its self determination, Somaliland Foreign policy was mainly built around the desire of seeking international recognition from the rest of the world, this is the fundamental ground of Somaliland Foreign policy.

In order to implement this policy Somaliland has Liaison and Coordinating Offices in United States, Canada, Dozens of EU member states including ex-colonial master (Great Britain), South Africa and most IGAD member states.

Remarks

In May, 2001, national referendum was held in Somaliland in which more than 97% of the voters approved the constitution and Somaliland self determination.

The first article of Somaliland constitution indicates that” Somaliland is an independent state with defined colonial boundaries”.

Somaliland first nation wide election were held in 2001, which provided implicit support for the territory’s independence from the rest of Somalia. This give birth Somaliland status in the world scenario, Somaliland president pay series visits in many parts of the world and made historic speech in British Parliament and Chatham House.

Somaliland president take part South Sudan Independence Day in July 9 2011 to persuade international community crowded in Juba the Somaliland self government.

Another development, on February 2012, Somaliland attained Somali reconciliation conference in London as an observer status which hosted government of Great Britain, Somaliland president made long speech at this conference indicating Somaliland tangible development since its separation, its role of regional stability, the democratization process and the importance of Somaliland self determination. The president said “there must be international discussions about the future of Somaliland launching a process leading to the recognition of our state which cannot be delay; giving their efforts, sacrifices and their achievements our people deserves nothing less recognition”.

How ever, although Somaliland had made all these diplomatic efforts, but Somaliland is still un-recognized state.

Why Somaliland is not recognized?

1.      Security situation, Somaliland recognize will result African wave of separatist movements,

2.      AU was/is unwilling to consider the sovereignty of Somaliland, Somaliland recognize will result African wave of separatist movements and new boundary problems,

3.      Somalia civil war and the question of international law,

My Political Argument

Interestingly Somaliland is different from Croatia and Kosovo-nations that have never separate history from Serbia-yet the two breakaway Republics become independent due to the western political support followed by the rest of the world.

On the other hand, the Republic of Somaliland is not different from Eretria which has a separate history from Ethiopia, but was allowed its independence and Southern Sudan which is historically part of Main land Sudan recently decided to secede through a referendum and got international support.

Hence, dear instructor and students, one might ask:

1.      Why Somaliland had treated differently?

2.      How Somaliland is different from Eretria, Kosovo, Croatia, and South Sudan?

My honorable instructor and students the answer is clear, the reason in which international community rejected my country’s self determination is because my country has no oil.

One Million Questions

1.      Since the independence of Somalia in 1960, Somali foreign policy was mainly built around the question of seeking the unification of all Somali territories in the horn under one state, this was the fundamental principle of Somali foreign policy, so far after 20 years of civil wars, famine, droughts, piracy and terrorism and the secession of Somaliland (the founding region of Somali unification), there fore:

a.      How the Somaliland secession is affecting Somali foreign policy?

b.      What is the different between Somali foreign policy in 1977(Ogaden war) and 2012?

c.       One line argument, is it Somaliland secession or Somali unification?

 By: Nageye Ali