Somaliland’s model of stability, reform and advancement is best exemplified by the capital city of Hargeisa. In this city, which was bombed to ruins under the Barre regime, crucial infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, homes, businesses, traffic lights and roads have been rebuilt in the past 20 years. But without further funds and supplies, the task of developing and maintaining stable health care, economic and political systems, and building key infrastructures throughout the region, will be prohibitively difficult.

At this juncture, Somaliland will no doubt benefit from a change in regime. Silanyo, who received nearly 50 percent of the vote, has shown a commitment to earning international recognition for Somaliland, and has vowed to make this his chief priority while in office. Somalilanders have rewarded peace over war and supported democracy without exacting revenge against one another.

Silanyo has articulated his hope that another free and fair election in Somaliland will help garner support among foreign governments and will, accordingly, push the government itself to employ stronger diplomatic efforts to establish relationships with the global community. Through his leadership, Somalilanders have gained trust in their democratic system and recognize that open dialogue and shared discussion is essential in taking the next step for Somaliland.

We should do our part and not be complacent in our effort to help Somaliland move forward.

 Hibaaq Osman is a Somali humanitarian and the founder and Chair of Karama, a network of activists that is based across the Middle East and North Africa and that is working to end violence against women. She was named one of the 500 Most Influential Muslims by The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University in 2009. THE DAILY STAR publishes this commentary in collaboration with the Common Ground News Service (www.commongroundnews.org).

Source: The Daily Star| Monday, 1 Aug 2010

1. french somalilanderm says:

   i believe somaliland recognition will come sooner then later. a good democratic institutions and governance will help but we somalilander in the diaspora should work harder and help our newly form governement by lobbying our local MP. WE SHOULD send emails to newspapers in our repective countries and the somaliland governement must be more active then it has ever been. somaliland is being discused in every quarter because of this amazing elections , we must use this opportunity and momentum we have gathered.. inshallah the end is near. wa bilaahi towfiiq

   4:05 am on August 3, 2010

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2. mohamed says:

   Somaliland politically belongs to the British World. I have already put
   my comments on the other side Video: Mr. Jeremy Carver Cbe,
   Somaliland Republic is a De Jure Sovereign State by virtue of its
   Independence on 26 June 1960. ex Great Britain, fulfilling all the
   regulating features of the House of Windsor, and all that is need is for
   Dr. Omar and Mr. Jeremy Carver to get together to work out to clear
   the baseless obstacles standing in the path of Somaliland reaching
   its goals of political recognition. The British have all the Independence
   records and in this respect through Mr. Jeremy Carver CBE, things
   could be somewhat pretty smooth and quick! …Hopefully???
   Cheers.

   12:26 pm on August 3, 2010

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3. Caynaanshe says:

   Mohamed what you call Somaliland is divided in regions that have little common regarding the recognition issue. I think that you are day dreaming by collectively putting Northern regions into one basket as if they have one voice.

   We all are aware that one Clan is pushing this issue regardless how others think or feel.

   5:53 pm on August 3, 2010

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   • mohamed says:

     Hey Caynaanshe,

     I dont understand your derogatory remarks. Every dog has his day.
     Eventually Somaliland proper seems to be winning and there is no
     way you can stop it. Caynaanshe this time it is real.
     Cheers.

     10:45 pm on August 3, 2010

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4. Abdulla Hassan Ali says:

   I wonder why people are bothered by recognition. Let us recognize ourselves and work together democratically and then, that long waited recognition, will one day, come to our own feet. We have already established all the norms of a state and everything is already in place, but let this system work peacefully and stably. Do'nt worry about this magic word of our dream, but just give it time to glow.
   M. J. Musa.

   8:08 pm on August 3, 2010

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5. Mohamed_Mahmoud says:

   Seeking recognition – the next goal.

   Recognition is important. We need to participate in the world, and gain things like trade and credit facility to built our country. How else would we build infrastructural facilities likes roads, et cetera. We need to partake in global finance, and seek support of projects which individuals on their own accord cannot implement. People can build their own house, and so forth, but when it comes to hospitals, roads, sewage system, et cetera we need the cooperation of others both to finance and built them.

   The question is how to achieve recognition. Somaliland has a tiny territory and a tiny population but does fulfill the criteria for Statehood. The sizes of population or territory are irrelevant for the purposes of Statehood. What is important is that the entity possesses those criteria as well as the two other criteria for Statehood – which are: a government in effective control of the territory and independence (or what is called “capacity to enter into legal relations” in the words of the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States 1935).

   Somaliland as a territorial entity does have a government, which is headed by the President. Somaliland has its own independent legal personality. It has a functioning economy. More importantly, Somaliland is independent of any other State. Its independence from Somalia which is the State that could have had claims to control that territory is recognized its citizenry.

   Many States are indeed created by the unilateral declaration of one State. This is how colonialism in Africa and Asia ended. This is how the States in the Commonwealth achieved statehood. They were all granted independence by unilateral declaration – in many cases, by national Statutes – of the colonial powers. Independence means the right to control a portion of a globe without being subject to the legal authority of another entity. The way this is achieved in the case of territories previously under the control of another State, is by that other State renouncing the claims that it has to that territory.

   Somaliland needs to be member of a number of international organizations, including the Universal Postal Union, the International Telecommunications Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Although the UPU is open to territorial entities which are not States (see commentary to Art. 1 of the UPU’s constitution), the only territorial entities that may be Members of the ITU and WIPO are States. That way, it can work it way up the recognition ladder by getting recognised first by International Bodies, and then put forward for governmental recognition.

   6:27 am on August 5, 2010

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   • mohamed says:

     Hello please listen, almost all your points are matters of secondary
     issues in nature. To cut a long story short, Somaliland by virtue of it's
     independence of 26 June 1960, from Great Britain after governed 84
     years under the treaty of Protectorate status quo, Somaliland by the same token remains a de jure Sovereign State which means that there's
     no binding law from the Somalia side effecting to bar the original
     de jure Somaliland position.
     Please clarify on what are the legal basis that Somalia can claim Somaliland as integral part???
     I believe somaliland problem is simply political and with a good
     Somaliland Govt., such obstacles must be overcome as soon aspossible.Cheers.

     11:12 pm on August 5, 2010

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     • Mohamed_Mohmoud says:

       Mohamed

       I think you meant 'de facto', and in that vein many have claimed Somaliland after the British protectorate mandate ended became a sovereign state as a matter of fact ( de facto). Somaliland then formed a union with Somalia, and by law ( de jure) it is a part and particle of the Republic of Somalia. The Somaliland which emerged from the British Protectorate was passed over by the events which led to the Union resulting in the Republic of Somalia.

       That is why we, as Somaliamders need to be recognised afresh as a sovereign state, the union we entered with Somalia having curtailed, and its legal ramification expired.

       We therefore exert our independency as a State, include all our functionality as a Government of a sovereign and independent Somaliland.

       These are NOT secondary matters, contrary to what you said, they are utmost primary to our goal of self-determination and self-rule, which is recognition. The reasons why are explained in my piece, above.

       1:28 am on August 6, 2010

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       • mohamed says:

         Mohamed,

         Listen Mr. Mohamed, as a matter of principle after the British
         Protectorate mandate ended the Somaliland independence
         mandate by law made it (de jure), already recognised by 36 world nations and already represented by an elected Government body consisting of 33 including the Prime Minister, and under a
         different country with different status quo formed a union with
         Somalia, both countries thus being equal status quo(de jure).
         Neither is de facto. Both are De Jure with equal terms and conditions.
         When their transformation union failed and we know the consequences
         which caused the failure, neither side can have a legal claim on the other.
         You still fail to address my previous concerns, and by the way
         what legal records are readily available in the hands of Somalia
         to even prove the union treaty???
         Cheers.

         9:50 pm on August 6, 2010

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6. mohamed says:

   Mohamed,

   By secondary issues I was mainly focusing on the Recognition status
   quo….de jure not de facto!!! Of Course all those other matters you related
   are important issues as well.
   Cheers.

   10:03 pm on August 6, 2010

    Reply