Last week the world has witnessed peaceful and simultaneous rallies organised in almost every major cities and towns in Somaliland as well as Capital cities around the world notably London, Norway, Stockholm, Oslo, Toronto, Washington and others to mark the 20th anniversary of regaining Somaliland independence declared on 18th May 1991 in Burao.
We have watched on television thousands of Somaliland army, civil society groups including students, government and private sector employees, youth organisations and many more marching along the main streets waving flags and wrapped up with fabric made of colours of Somaliland flag.
This has been by far the most highly choreographed national ceremonial anniversary of its kind ever held in Somaliland. The success was due to the fact that Somalilanders buried the hatchet once and for all regardless whatever political affiliations or party they belong to I.e. being supporters of Kulmiye, Ucid or Udub.
They all shared one mindset, which was just to make this remarkable event successful and express to the world who they are what they want and what their aspirations and ambitions are. Surely this would not have been possible, had not been the government’s leadership and commitment to put at the heart of their strategy to showcase Somaliland independence, raise its profile and use the event as a marketing tool to inform better those who know Somaliland as well those who never heard it to learn about Somaliland history.
This was manifested by the coverage presented by some well known media channels including Aljazeera, BBC World News and Rauters about 20th anniversary of Somaliland independence. Somaliland government yet again took a courageous step to get ever closer to have their voice heard by the international community and the United Nations Security Council in attending the Nairobi conference this week.
This could be a breakthrough for Somaliland in order the world to listen and acknowledge what they have to say, it also gives Somaliland a chance to explain their legal argument as being an independent state rather than being represented in their absence otherwise. Those who are critical for this new direction of foreign policy should simply clock the turn back for the past 19 years of stagnation with little progress in foreign policy.
Somaliland needs to be part of geopolitics both at regional and international level BUT does not want to be locked up in a cage
Saed Bashe (Bristol). Email: Saeedm00@yahoo.com
Source; Somaliland24
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