Somaliland Forum

The latest report from the International Crisis Group, examines the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as it marks fifteen years since it proclaimed independence from Somalia. If Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) expands its authority across the shattered country, the dispute over Somaliland’s status is likely to become an ever-increasing source of friction. Somaliland has reacted angrily to the TFG’s calls for the UN arms embargo on Somalia to be lifted so it could arm itself and has threatened to increase its own military strength if this happens.

Somaliland’s 15-year quest for independence may turn violent if the African Union fails to address the breakaway Somali enclave’s case, including granting it observer status, a think-tank said on Wednesday.

We, the Somaliland Forum, have been discussing the forthcoming end of the term of the House of Elders (Guurti) in October 2006 and the Guurti Indirect Elections Bill, which is currently being considered by the House of Representatives. We were therefore extremely surprised to learn that on Sunday 6th May 2006, the Guurti considered a presidential decree extending their term of office for another 4 years up to October 2010 and promptly voted to endorse it.

Imagine a country within the greater Middle East ambit that has successfully made the transition to electoral democracy with multiparty municipal, presidential, and, most recently, parliamentary polls. Moreover, imagine that despite virtually all of its citizens being Sunni Muslims, the country’s national elections commission designates a progressive

The election of the new Executive Committee of the Somaliland Forum for the year 2006 - 2007 has concluded on 2nd May, 2006. This is the 9th Forum executive committee that is officially elected by the members of the Forum since its inception.