- To most, a functionally independent country that lies in the northern
part of modern Somalia with a separate government, education system,
and even a coast guard
would be something out of a fantasy novel. However, Somaliland, hidden
on the Horn of Africa, is exactly that. Its four million people declared
independence in 1991—the second time they have done so since the
colonial period—and have established a robust democracy that has seen
peaceful transfers of power between political rivals in 2002 and 2010.
Given that it is as large as Uruguay in terms of area, Somaliland
clearly has the population, land, and democratic stability to be
considered an autonomous nation by the international community. However,
no country currently recognizes Somaliland’s sovereignty.
The main factors holding Somaliland back from full international
recognition stem from its complicated history with Somalia and existing
relationships between global leaders and Somaliland’s troubled neighbor.
Nonetheless, the country is making a strong case for itself by
garnering huge international investments and maintaining a stable and
robust democracy. It is now the duty of international powerhouses to
recognize Somaliland for its progress and welcome it to the
international community.
History Should not Govern the Future
The international community’s focus on Somaliland’s historical ties
with Somalia is short-sighted and unfair. The two countries only unified
in 1960, when the British and Italians finally decolonized the area.
Shortly after unification, however, power was quickly centralized to the
south in Mogadishu, the current capital of Somalia. Somalilanders’
anger at this new form of pseudo-colonialism perpetuated by Mogadishu boiled over
in the 1980s when Somali President Siad Barre took violent control of
the country. The nationalist leader lashed out against the northern part
of the country by destroying 90 percent of Somaliland’s main city of
Hargeisa, massacring an estimated 50,000 members of the country’s
largest ethnic group. Somalilander freedom fighters finally ousted
Somali forces from their territory in 1991 and subsequently declared
independence for the second time.
Within two years of independence, Somaliland enjoyed its first
democratic election and built a stable democracy, while Somalia plunged
into turmoil resulting from the power vacuum left by Barre. As Somalis
were tied up in the long Battle of Mogadishu, Somalilanders developed
their economy and democracy. However, since 1991, few countries have
helped Somaliland establish its international presence. The two
countries’ historical ties with one another has made it difficult for
the international community to separate diplomacy with Somaliland from
that with Mogadishu. The United States specifically has not recognized
Somaliland due to its belief that it would be too disruptive to the
Somali government. Even though it seems imprudent to hamper Somaliland’s
growth solely because of its history with its southern neighbor, the
world continues to ignore what the Economist calls “East Africa’s strongest democracy.”
Where Somaliland is Headed
Major international actors like the United States have not recognized
Somaliland’s sovereignty in order to avoid amplifying the political
challenges that Mogadishu is facing. Global leaders fear that
recognizing Somaliland would further delegitimize Somalia’s weak
government. However, international powerhouses’ willingness to send active military
to Somalia 30 years ago contrasts sharply with their refusal to
recognize a fully independent and prosperous government today.
Nonetheless, many countries have consulates in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s
capital, such as Denmark and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, South
Africa, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Belgium, United Kingdom, France, South
Sudan, and Kenya all accept Somaliland passports
as legitimate means of identification. However, without any formal
state recognition and an envoy to the United Nations, Somaliland has
very little international power.
While its diplomatic efforts have hit roadblocks, Somaliland is
growing politically and financially at an unprecedented speed. Even
without international support, Somaliland has been able to garner
significant foreign investment, further proving that it deserves
international recognition. In 2012, Coca-Cola invested
in a $15 million bottling factory in suburbs of Hargeisa, which created
hundreds of jobs for locals. Coca-Cola has committed to investing $15
million more in the Somaliland Beverage Company to support the factory’s
maintenance. Furthermore, the Dubai-based ports operator DP World invested
a startling $442 million into building a brand new port in the city of
Berbera, which lies on the strategic intersection of the Red Sea and the
Gulf of Aden.
The resilience of Somaliland’s economic development is remarkable.
This economic vigor translates to the country’s commitment to democracy,
with the 2017 presidential election serving as clear evidence. The
United States, France, the United Kingdom, and the European Union all sent representatives
to watch the successful presidential elections. It is not clear whether
this political momentum will carry over into recognition by these world
superpowers. However, Somaliland is evidently on the right path to
international statehood. Thus, the responsibility clearly lies with
countries like the United States to reward Somaliland for being a
shining example of democracy, stability, and independence.
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