Friday, January 14, 2011

Somaliland: Similarities With Southern Sudan.

By Ahmed Kheyre

The plebiscite in Southern Sudan has captured the imagination of many Africans and many more across the globe. After decades of strife, the people of Southern Sudan recently voted on their future aspirations. Although the voting process has not been completed, there is a general consensus that the people of Southern Sudan have voted to part ways with Sudan.

The Southern Sudan vote has caught the imagination of many people, not least the people of Somaliland.

Somaliland, after attaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1960, formed a union with Italian Somalia, creating the now defunct Somali Republic. The defunct Somali Republic collapsed in the 1991, which led to Somaliland reclaiming its sovereignty, much like the various republics of the old USSR. Subsequent national referendum in Somaliland affirmed the wishes of the people, a sovereign Somaliland.

It has been twenty year since Somaliland reclaimed its sovereignty. During this period Somaliland has managed to create a functioning democratic state based on its own grassroots formula of dialogue, discussion and consensus. There has been remarkable political and economics progress, although the country remains poor, compared to many other areas of the region, Somaliland has been a beacon of success in the Horn of Africa.

As Somaliland´s de-jure recognition appears ever closer, aided in part by the recent national presidential elections and smooth transfer of power, and the democratic separation of Sudan, many authors have been inspired to express their opinions. Some are pro-Somaliland and others are anti- Somaliland.

The pro-Somaliland authors state the obvious; that Somaliland was an independent nation before the union, and it has a stable population and clearly marked borders. Somaliland is an inclusive and tolerant Muslim nation. Somaliland is a democratic state with a functioning executive, legislative and judiciary. Somaliland is a progressive state with emphasis on education, civil rights, social welfare, freedom of speech and association.

Somaliland´s economy is gradually coming to its own, including new innovations in communications, financial services, local goods and light industrial productions (all this without any bilateral agreements). These are just a few example of the reality in Somaliland. It is also imperative to point out that Somaliland is a poor country suffering from severe unemployment, particularly in the youth sector, as well as, an urgent need to improve infrastructure, such as basic social services, roads, internal communications, etc.


These are just a few examples of Somaliland´s achievements and obstacles in the last twenty years and not to mention, fighting piracy and terrorism on its own.

On the other side of Somaliland´s march towards de-jure recognition are those of the school of thought whose sole argument is that Somaliland´s eventual recognition would lead to problems within Somaliland. Talk about the last throw of the dice!

Rest assured that whatever future trials and tribulations Somaliland may face, its people will use the formula of dialogue, discussion and consensus to resolve any and all issues.

The main principles for Somaliland's success, and continued success, are inclusiveness, tolerance, justice and mutual respect among all its citizens, irrespective of economic, social or clan association.

Somaliland is a new paradigm for statehood in the horn of Africa. Somaliland is the reality in the Horn of Africa.

So, yes, there are Somaliland journalists covering the Southern Sudan referendum, and there is no doubt that this particular referendum has caught the imagination of Somalilanders, but, what most anti-Somalilanders fail to understand is that Somaliland is the solution to continued ills of the defunct Somali Republic.

In twenty years, Somaliland has endeavoured to bring about improvements in the lives of its ordinary citizens, and during those same twenty years, the opponents of Somaliland have done nothing to help their beleaguered citizens.

The type of mentality which advocates that Somaliland´s eventual recognition would lead to internal strife within its borders is exactly the kind of mentality that has nothing to offer the beleaguered people of south and central Somalia. A bankrupt argument from a bankrupt group.

Fortunately, for these nay-Sayers and never-doers, the Somaliland ship has sailed, and they appear to be adrift.

Source: The American Chronicle

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