International News
Somalia: 20 years of anarchy
January 27, 2011 · 3 Comments
When you land at the clean, tidy airport in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, you feel you could have arrived in any small African state.
The police are courteous and wear freshly-pressed uniforms, the Somaliland flag flutters gently in the hot morning breeze, and you move briskly through the airport security.
The taxi you take into town is paid for in Somaliland’s currency, the shilling.
But do not get carried away – despite the outward trappings of statehood, this is a country that does not officially exist.
Somaliland unilaterally declared its independence from the rest of Somalia in May 1991, after the fall of the country’s military strongman, Mohamed Siad Barre.
He fled the country exactly 20 years ago on Wednesday, after two decades in power.
By Zeinab Badawi
BBC News, Somaliland
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12279880
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By Abdiqani
Tags: BBC, Independent, Somalia, Somaliland
Readers Comments (3)
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Perhaps it's the first time Zeinab Badawi visited Somaliland and does not fully understand the
deep unique history of this ancient country and wonderful people dating back to old generations
of different historical significances. oh well not bad reporting.
Cheers.
ONE LOVE SOMALILAND
ONE LOVE SNM
Dearest Z. Badawi The 20 years of anarchy in Somaliland reminded me the condolence letter sent by Mr. Carl Bernardi (USA) on November 20, 2003 when he heard the death of the visionay founder of Somaliland and first president of Somaliland Mr Abdulrahman Ahmed Ali (peace be upon him) and Allah's beautiful flawer grow up on his grave.
He said with deep regret, and his deepest condolence to the Peaple of Somaliland and all Abdulrahman's family. He was truly a visionary, a leader and a hero whp delivered freedom to his country from the tyranny and humiliation suffered at the behest of Somalia. Abdulrahman was no less a man of great african importance with the likes of Keyattaa, Lumumba, Mandela and now ABDURAHMAN AHMED ALI . May he will be remembered with great esteem for may generations to come. Unfortunately that doesn't happened I don't know why.