A brief report on the 29th July Chatham House Event.

''A Brief report.''

Cathem House (LONDON): On 29th June, Somaliland was yet debating, passionately, about her quest for recognition with both foes and friends. Chatham House, successfully, hosted an stately dialogue on 'Somaliland's International Perspectives' that took place in the format of a workshop, and was attended by prominent foreign statesmen and women, African Union representative, European Union representative, members of Somaliland Diaspora in UK, scholars and Friends of Somaliland. The workshop was scheduled into three sessions; part one discussed what Somaliland has achieved over the last year. Part two discussed the current political strategies of Somaliland and the attitudes and relations of the international community toward Somaliland, with the third part looking at the viable and pragmatic venues that Somaliland should look into to reach her goals.

The essence of this workshop, which enabled the participants to interchange question/answer in each session, was the fact that speakers of various domains were able to present their cases on Somaliland's quest for recognition. Scholars, expert on legal issues, discussed a number of facets of Somaliland's legal status. According to the expert’s legal point of view, Somaliland fulfils the requirements of a sovereign state and Somaliland is no a “non-state”, which scholars described as an illegal and a perpetual to international security and can only be understood to have formed to threaten the international peace and security.

Somaliland was encouraged to engage directly with the United Nations and prepare a consensual letter/form to the United Nations to ask for a full recognition for Somaliland's sovereignty. Somaliland could have done what both Eritrea and South Sudan were able to do prior to their international recognition. This will enable Somaliland go through the right Channels.

Somaliland's new foreign policy was seen to promote engagement before recognition and that has created unwarranted criticisms from ill-informed individuals and critics which made the new government's engagement process challenging. The engagement process while good for diplomacy relations could equally backfire if the Somaliland Diaspora is not engaged head on.

It was imperative that the EU felt one way that they could stabilise the situation in what formerly known as the Somali Republic, and that the EU’s main “concern” is to find immediate solution to the prolonging security problems in Somalia and the fierce famine that the people of Somalia are faced with. Though the EU finds the security issues in Somalia extremely challenging, they are, nevertheless, preparing to engage with both Somaliland and Somalia.

The EU is willing to support both countries financially and aid them to create atmosphere of peace and development. The EU plans to invest in education and water infrastructure in Somaliland. The issue of Somaliland’s recognition is not something the EU is engaging with, at the moment.

Furthermore, the international observers and the representatives of African Union and European Union made it clear that Somaliland's recognition can only be achieved within Africa, where most agreed that it will take only one 'African' country to break the ice and thus the rest of the world states will follow as a "falling dominoes". It has been indicated that many African countries were supportive of Somaliland's quest for recognition and still some are in favour. Somaliland government and Diaspora were encouraged to benefit from the "promising indications" of many African countries that are waiting and willing to grant Somaliland her overdue recognition.

This means that Somaliland should first approach individual African countries before approaching the AU directly. The AU sees Somaliland has come a long way and sees Somaliland's current atmosphere positive which highlights the fact that many African countries have now acknowledged Somaliland and treat her as an independent state.

Somaliland's new government has already attracted a positive attention from the international community and Somaliland's achievements were very much regarded as positive. Somaliland Diaspora believes that if however, Somaliland is to move forward it is imperative that the Somaliland Government should come up with new foreign policy where engagement means taking bold and aggressive actions.

Somaliland Diaspora believes that Somaliland is lucky to have Friends that are directing them in the right direction but it is up to Somaliland to formulate new intelligence of negotiations for Somaliland's Recognition and this responsibility rests greatly on the shoulders of the Government and the Somaliland nation including that of the Diaspora.

On behalf of:
Somaliland Society Europe (SSE)
(ss_europe@yahoogroups.com)
Somaliland Society United Kingdom (SSUK)
uksomalilandworkinggroup@yahoogroups.com