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| Somaliland: On Recognition And
Statehood |
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Introduction
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| The twelve year old patience of Somaliland people in
these trying times for diplomatic recognition proves the
perseverance and resilience of that nation and its commitment to
independent, sovereign state. Somaliland suffered, before, from a
two-decade long humiliation, dereliction, injustice, and repression
(1960-1980) and a decade long merciless campaign of atrocities and
destruction (1981-1991) through indiscriminate heavy bombardment on
civilians, cities (Hargeisa and Burao) towns, and rural areas by
warplanes, tanks and artillery. This vitriolic war was caused and
pursued by Darodism-driven zealots, a view not shared by many of
their clan, and drew misled, disoriented Hawiye and others into it.
It was motivated by both tribal hatred and desire for land expansion
and devised to ethnic cleanse an entire people, Isaks, either by
massacring or expelling in order to resettle refugees from
Ethiopian-ruled Western Somali Province and others in their
motherland. The insane campaign, which violated Islamic
righteousness, conscience, and morality, was mounted from Mogadisho
by Siyad`s divisive, brutal regime. The valiant armed struggle of
SNM (1981-1991), supported by its courageous people, rescued
Somaliland and its people from the well plotted statelessness in
January 1991. This liberation facilitated the victorious national
reconciliation, the immediate withdrawal from the disastrous union
with Somalia, and the reclamation of Somaliland sovereignty in the
Pan-Somaliland Conference held in Burao, capital of Togdheer region,
in May 1991. Subsequently, law and order were restored, clan
militias were disarmed, and democratic institutions were established
. The joint efforts of Somaliland police and army made Somaliland a
peaceful, stable country since its proclamation, and protect it from
international terrorism, drug trafficking and smuggling. The army is
also ready to defend the country from external aggressions. |
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Somaliland Recognition |
| The United Nations, which has the authority of
international legitimacy, is still withholding the legitimate
recognition of Somaliland unjustifiably for the last 12 years.
Somalilandland has fulfilled the fundamental condition for
diplomatic recognition: An existing independent nation with its own
colonial-drawn borders- a legal basis for diplomatic recognition.
Article 4 of African Union charter asserts that the organization
respects and recognizes independence of African countries based on
colonial borders. The diplomatic recognition of all the 54 current
African states is based on these colonial borders. Provisions on
sovereignty in the charters of the UN and Arab League also support
and recognize independence based on colonial borders. Somaliland is
not a breakaway or a separatist country. The UN, the African Union,
and the Arab League know undisputably that Somaliland achieved
independence before Somalia on June 26, 1960 within its colonial
borders, and was one of the 17 African countries that obtained
independence in 1960 from Europe. However, it had unratified merger
with Somalia for 30 years (July 1960- January 1991) but withdrew
from that union due to the above mentioned atrocities and
destruction. In that year of independence, 1960, and before the
merger, 35 countries recognized Somaliland diplomatically including
Egypt. Why not now? what is the difference between then and Now?
Somaliland is not the first country that withdrew from a union.
Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia withdrew from the Soviet Union
collapse in 1989, Bosnia and Macedonia withdrew from the Federation
of disintegrated Yugoslavia in 1990s. All these new countries were
automatically recognized by the United Nations. Somaliland is not
exception as it fulfilled the same criteria. Besides the withdrawal
decision of May 1991, the landmark referendum held in Somaliland on
May 31, 2001, overwhelmingly approved Somaliland constitution and
reaffirmed, in the presence of international election monitors, the
will of the Somaliland people to have independent, sovereign state
of their own. Neither the UN nor the regional organizations (African
Union and Arab League) have the right to nullify the decision of
Somaliland people in that referendum. The neglect of Somaliland by
the international community exposes its shocking double standard
that on one hand advocates for peace, stability, and democratic
institutions, and, on the other hand, ignores peaceful, stable,
democratic Somaliland by denying it of diplomatic recognition. This
denial has no legal basis in the court of international law. The
delay is just a mere hope by the UN and regional organizations that
Somaliland may return to the union with Somalia one day. This
political gambling at the expense of Somaliland people for 12 years
is irresponsible. It is also perpetuation of lawlessness, despair,
famine, and violent, factional fighting in Somalia. This unfounded
hope will not affect the iron will of Somaliland people toward
self-determination but will consolidate their unchanging stance to
have independent, sovereign state from the injustice and killing
machine of Somalia. Somaliland government will not attend any peace
talks held for Somalia because that would undermine its sovereignty
and damage its legitimacy for recognition . The recent, alarming
report of IGAD executive committee named: Negotiating a Blueprint
for Peace in Somalia, and released on March 6, 2003 is another
undisguised hostile attempt by IGAD countries that, when failed to
rescue the curent peace talks in Kenya from collapse, is ploting to
derail Somaliland sovereignty and fight its legitimate, diplomatic
recognition. The Somaliland government, parliament, political
parties, intellectuals, media, Somalilandforum, and its surrogates
and sympathizers around the world ought to stand up now for
Somaliland cause and launch a coordinated worldwide campaign at the
UN, African Union, and donor governments to defend Somaliland
sovereignty and advocate for immediate diplomatic recognition.
Somaliland government must reject publicly the pressure from UN,
African Union, Arab League, and IGAD, and show the impracticality of
what is called “Federalism”. This report is on:
www.crisisweb.org. When the UN, African Union, and the Arab League
push Somaliland to reunify with Somalia again, can they guarantee
for Somaliland people that a ruthless Southern military or civilian
dictator will not emerge in Federal Somalia again, dissolving any
federal constitution, parliament, and government immediately, and
inflicting the same atrocities and destruction upon Somaliland again?
The answer is simply NO. Then, they should stop that push ,
recognize Somaliland, and let the two peoples live in peace
separately. Somalia itself has no delusion that Somaliland has
international legitimacy for recognition for achieving independence
before it in 1960. There is no doubt that Somalia would be peaceful
and stable country today led by its own government if Somaliland
were recognized long time ago. This would happen for two reasons.
First, the people of Somalia would not waste any more time on
waiting for Somaliland. Secondly, they would emulate jealously with
Somaliland. Now, neither Somaliland is recognized nor Somalia has
peace, both peoples are punished equally in the hands of UN. The
current UN policy of keeping both countries at bay is not working
any more. The sooner Somaliland is recognized the better chance to
restore peace, law, and order in Somalia. There is no question that
Somaliland will be recognized diplomatically, soon or later, for
having full legitimacy and the statehood of Somaliland will be real.
The patience and resilience will pay soon. Now, the eyes of the
international community are focused on the coming Somaliland
presidential elections in April 2003. What is at stake, in this
crucial moment, is the diplomatic recognition of Somaliland and its
democratic institutions. It is the biggest test of Somaliland since
its inception of 1991 and the best chance for international
recognition. So, the election must be clean of corruption and
tribalism, must be conducted peacefully, and every Somalilander
ought to respect its results. The loser must concede graciously for
the interest of the country and the people and the winner must be
congratulated wholeheartedly for the same sake in order to sustain
peaceful, stable, democratic Somaliland that promises prosperity and
happiness for all Somalilanders and wins the respect of the
international community. Besides diplomatic recognition, smooth,
fair elections boost foreign financial aid to fund essential
projects such as roads, health, water supply, schools, electricity
etc. But beware! It is the sacred duty of all Somalilanders to make
sure to elect a president who is committed to the cause of
Somaliland. The ruling party must not use the search for Somaliland
recognition for political gains and both government and political
parties must be cleansed of pro-union elements that can jeopardize
Somaliland cause. Opposing Somaliland sovereignty is treason but
opposing an incumbent rule or administration advocating better
political reforms is a progressive democratic view and must be
respected by all. |
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Somaliland Statehood |
| Somaliland state rose on the ashes of Somalia-mounted
war ravages that claimed much blood of Somaliland`s dear sons and
daughters either through killing and massacring in cities or falling
in battlefields during liberation resistance (1981-1991). The
current situation in Somaliland is commendable and on the right
track that could promise every Somalilander for fast recovery,
permanent peace, and progress. Somaliland people must continue
disproving the claim of others that Somalilanders have selfish,
chronic tribalism that prevents them from sustaining stable,
peaceful State. They must dismiss that false idea and show the world
that patriotism and nationalism are far above tribalism and
selfishness in Somaliland. The inter-clan armed confrontation
between 1994-1995 was a tragic mistake and undeserving to forget the
sad memories inherited from Somalia, and offensive to those who were
slaughtered or fell for the cause. It is the interest of all
Somalilanders to solve all problems peacefully. Somalilanders have
enough experience what could devastate a nation. The only danger
that can threaten the peace and stability in Somaliland and
undermine its diplomatic recognition could come from tribal
ambitions for corrupt, tribal dictatorship through corrupt elections
that finally causes violent reactions from the rest of the nation
and that could trigger another civil war of death, destruction, and
fleeing which affects the ruled, the ruler, the poor, and the rich
equally and that could lead Somaliland to another unwelcome,
embarrassing, and humiliating merger with Somalia. Such scenario
must be avoided by all means. Both external and internal enemies are
also another menace to Somaliland. They work hard to undermine
Somaliland peace and stability in order to deny it of recognition
and statehood. They would love to see Somaliland in shambles with
its people seeking refuge in Somalia again for union. All
Somalilanders must be on constant alert to avert preemptively such
sabotages. As any other nation on this planet, Somaliland people can
disagree on platforms of the different political parties but they
can not disagree on defending national security, unity, and
sovereignty. The biggest war in a democratic country is the battle
of ideas and the biggest weapon is the political platform to win the
hearts of a nation. A successful Somaliland State with permanent
peace and progress hinges on three: Respect for the law (Somaliland
Constituiton), respect for the democratic system, Islam supports
shared rule through representation that respects Islamic laws and
rejects unjust dictatorships, and respect for freedom of press and
speech. Law is the guarantor of smooth, uninterrupted running of
Somaliland state as well as the safety of the people and their
property. Democracy is the enemy of tribal dictatorship and corrupt
regimes. Freedom of press and speech is the guiding beacon of a
democratic rule and the guardian of the people`s state. It is the
foe of a government for disclosing or spotlighting publicly its
selfish greed for power and wealth, its corruptions,
mal-administration, and human rights violations. It is the
existential interest of all Somalilanders to protect constructive
freedom of press and speech (TVS, radios, newspapers, Internet,
speeches etc) from governmental crackdown to avoid tribal
dictatorship, corruption, and favorism. There are some Somalis who
wrongly believe that all Somalis share any Somali territory and have
the right to reside, work, participate in its wealth, or even govern
in any one of the five Somalis (Somaliland, Somalia, Djabouti,
Northeastern Somali province in Kenya, and Western Somali province
in Ethiopia) just because all Somalis share origin, culture,
religion, and language. This is a dangerous tendency that advocates
for chaos, statelessness, and total absence of national identity
which existed during Siyad`s rule (1970-1990) when refugees from
Western Somali province in Ethiopia were allowed to hold key
positions in the government and military , making them the most
powerful and privileged people in the then Republic of Somalia, and,
at the same time, depriving its citizens of their basic rights and
legitimate opportunities. Somaliland government and people must
always reject that illegitimate sharing tendency. Somalis are not
different from the 18 arab countries who also share origin, culture,
religion, and language but have separate independent states that
require an arab person to have legal visas for entering another arab
state. Similarly, Somalis do not share any territory or state but
each territory or country belongs solely to its own people. If the
Somalis failed historically to share union and government peacefully
and democratically, then they must stay separately for the peace and
interest of each people. Somaliland belongs exclusively to
Somalilanders who, regardless of lineage or clan affiliation,
historically and ethnically have origin in Somaliland and resided in
it in the year of independence, 1960. Only Somaliland citizens have
the sole right to claim and possess Somaliland citizenship,
passports, and personal IDS. Somaliland has well-defined national
identity, inviolable territorial integrity, and internationally
recognized borders. Any person that comes from the other four Somali
territories or any other country in the world for the purpose of:
visit, business, work, livestock marketing or any other harmless,
decent purpose must enter and stay in Somaliland on official visas,
and must leave it before its expiry. Exempt are Somaliland
pastoralists who reside on the near other side of the border (Dhulka
Hawd) with Ethiopia for sharing ethnicity and history with
Somalilanders. Non-Somalilanders who prefer to stay in Somaliland
awhile for different acceptable circumstances such as political or
tribal persecution must have legal documents of residence. It is the
interest of Somaliland security, stability, and sovereignty to keep
track of all foreigners in the country. The administration,
governance, and defense of Somaliland solely belong to Somaliland
people. God`s willing, Somaliland will hail soon its diplomatic
recognition and will consolidate its statehood. |
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| Writer: Ibrahim Hassan Gagale, |
| Email: Ibrahim_hg@yahoo.com,
March 12, 2003. |
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Somaliland
Web
Somaliland
will Elect UDUB!