SOMALILAND FORUM
PRESS RELEASE, Friday July 5, 2002 Ref. SF/EC-051-2002
An Open Letter to the G-8 Leaders
Somaliland (A Brief History)
Somaliland gained its independence from Great Britain on June 26, 1960 in
the same year many African countries became independent. However, a
never-signed, never-ratified and never referendum-approved informal
amalgamation with Somalia, which had gained its independence from Italy on
July 1, 1960, was to befall Somaliland. In short, Somaliland’s sovereignty
would be commandeered by Somalia.
What followed then was an increasing brutalization of the people of
Somaliland, which would culminate in the genocidal massacres of 1988. From
that point it was clear that the people of Somaliland had only one way to
go: struggle to restore their sovereignty, human rights and independence.
Finally, on May 18, 1991, after a decade of liberation war, the people of
Somaliland put a stop to the amalgamation, and restored Somaliland’s
sovereignty. Since that time, the world has mostly heard of only Somalia
with its civil instability, and famines, but not much about peaceful and
democratic Somaliland, rated as probably the most peaceful country in Africa
last year (See Afafe Ghechoua, Jeune Afrique L’intelligent, “Somaliland: Et
pourtant, il fonctione,” number 2114, July, 2001, p. 28-31.)
As the leaders of the World, we appeal to you to give immediately diplomatic
recognition to Somaliland, so Somaliland can move on from being the world’s
number 1 quasi-state to an internationally recognized state.
Why recognize Somaliland?
1. The Republic of Somaliland regained its sovereignty after a 10 year
liberation and fulfils all the criteria of statehood as set out in article 1
of the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States.
2. Somaliland has a permanent population, a defined territory (inherited
from the former British Somaliland) with clear international boundaries of
which it has an effective control, a democratic government, two houses of
parliament and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.
3. The people of Somaliland voted in a referendum in May 2001 for an
independent Somaliland. 4. Somaliland had been subjected to massacres and a
genocide by the government of Somalia.
5. Somaliland abides by all international and regional rules.
6. Somaliland is a good peacekeeper locally and regionally.
7. Somaliland is a self-help country and demands little from the world
community; while the UN and the international community has poured billions
into Somalia over the last decade in an effort to stabilize it.
8. If the achievements of the people of Somaliland are recognized, the
people of Somalia proper would take inspiration from that event and hasten
to form their own juridical state.
10. A potential and disastrous war between Somalia and Somaliland would be
averted; such a war, were it to happen, would drive the whole region of the
Horn of Africa into turmoil.
Why does Somaliland need recognition?
Although Somaliland is capable of feeding its people and engaging in
reconstruction and development, its efforts are hindered by:
1. Lack of international banking relations;
2. Lack of international investments.
International recognition would remove these impeachments and accelerate the
pace of development and reconstruction in Somaliland.
Benefits to the world community:
1. No cost.
2. Increased stability and peace in the region.
3. The people of Somalia would resolve their own differences and emulate
Somaliland and its democracy.
“[I]t costs nothing to ignore or neglect … [Somaliland] today. If,
however, to take one example, external assistance to develop Somaliland …
will show a positive long-term return on investment in terms of improved
local (and hence regional) stability, then the short-term savings of doing
nothing may be overwhelmed by the increased costs of future long-term
instability.” (Scot Pegg, Bilkent University: “The Taiwan of the Balkans?
The De Facto State Option for Kosova,” Southeast European Politics, Vol. 1,
No. 2, December 2000, p. 93.)
We would like to conclude with these words from Anthony J. Carroll and B.
Rajagopal:
“The birth of Somaliland inevitably resulted from a combination of a
distinct colonial experience, extreme economic exploitation and human
suffering. The irredentist policies of Somalia and the systematic
discrimination bordering on genocide alienated the northern populations
which never acceded to the Union in the first place. The international
community has a rare opportunity to bring peace and prosperity to the Horn,
before the warlords of butchery in Mogadishu wipe out the evanescent hopes
of independence in Somaliland. By a single act of recognition, the
international community can end the sad saga of human suffering, enhance the
prospects for peace in the region by putting an end to the Greater Somalia
concept, and enable the people of Somaliland to reclaim their future.”
References:
1. Anthony J. Carroll B. Rajagopal. The Case for the Independent Statehood
of Somaliland. American University, Journal of International Law & Politics,
Vol. 8:653, 1993.
2. Alan Rake, Somaliland: Rebuilding from Scratch. New African, December
1991, P. 20.
3. Afafe Ghechoua, Jeune Afrique L’intelligent, “Somaliland: Et pourtant, il
fonctione,” number 2114, July, 2001, p. 28-31.)
4. Jack L. Davies. Somaliland: Separate Question. New African, May 1994. P.
8.
5. Gerard Prunier. Somaliland Goes it Alone. Current History, May 1998,
P.225-28.
6. Matt Bryden. Somaliland: Fiercely Independent. Africa Report , November
december, 1994, P35(5)
7. Gerard Prunier. Le Somaliland, le pays qui n’existe pas. Le Monde
Diplomatique, October 1997, p. 18.
8. Hussein M. Adam. Formation and Recognition of New States: Somaliland in
Contrast to Eritrea. Review of African Political Economy ,No. 59: 21-38,
1994.
9. Iniative and Referendum Institute (Washington, USA),
http://www.iandrinstitute.org.
The Somaliland Forum
Background: The Somaliland Forum (SLF) is an international organization that
brings together Somalilanders from all parts of the world mainly, through
the medium of the Internet. The primary objective of the Forum is to work
with the Somaliland communities around the world in order to provide some
lasting solutions to the needs of the Republic of Somaliland and its people.
For more information, Please visit forum’s web site at:
http://www.somalilandforum.com