International News
Somaliland Reiterates Its Independence From The Rest Of Somalia
June 27, 2011 · 59 Comments
HARGEISA(SomalilandPress)–Authorities in the self-declared republic of Somaliland said on Sunday they will not be taking any turn to join the rest of Somalia which has been marred by endless conflict since the ouster of Somalia’s former president Siad Barre in 1991.
Emerging defiant yet again, officials in Hargeisa joined thousands in marking the 51st anniversary since the colonial authorities granted Somalia’s self-independence in 1960.
“Today is indeed a remarkable day, the day we became free from colonizers. We have been an independent state for the last 51 years proving the peace and tranquility we the people of Somaliland are enjoying” President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo told a crowd of adoring of Somalilanders who attended the colorful function.
Hargeisa is the first town in Somalia where the blue flag of the entire Somalia was hoisted on June 26, 1960, paving the way for a union that was the origin of the amalgamation of the North and South that formed the Somali republic.
Somaliland leaders used the anniversary occasion to push and raise their profile in the international geo-politics where they have shown their strident critic regarding the ongoing peace and reconciliation efforts to include the semi-autonomous region into larger Somalia.
“I respond to president Shariff following his comments during the anniversary in Mogadishu that unity between Hargeisa and Mogadishu is not an issue of force. We are not ready to bargain about our independence” Somaliland’s foreign minister Abdullahi Mohamed Omar told the BBC Somali service
The comments by the minister followed what the president of Transitional Federal Government of Somalia said on Sunday in Mogadishu that the South is ready apologize to the North about the historic injustices while calling for a fresh unity for Somalia.
The self declared republic believes that initially it was there decision to merge with the South, but following endless problems in the country, it is yet another decision from Somalilanders to remain independent from the rest of the country.
Somaliland appealed to African nations to grant the semi-autonomous region recognition as a sovereign state in the continent.
“We need more support from African states. We need recognition, cooperation and assistance from African states” the minister said
June 26th is also a day earmarked as the International Somaliland Awareness Day (ISAD) as the region seeks international recognition, bold campaigns are waging across the African continent.
Somaliland, a former British colony, declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, following the civil strife that followed more than twenty years of military rule. No sovereign state has formally recognized the area as independent.
Source:HOL
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By Mo Guled
Tags: Somaliland June 26, Somaliland Republic, Somalilandpress
Readers Comments (59)
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maybe we should tell ourselves the truth. Nobody wants to recognise us. How do we get
joy out of our ethnic Somali brothers and sisters dying and suffering and say look at us.
The Habshi and other africans our not our brothers or sisters, we have nothing in common with and they our not our friends. But the truth is the Somalis are.
Your argument is all wrong dear brother. No Somaliander or Muslim for that matter can enjoy the suffering of their brother and sister in Islam. That said, the pain and suffering of southerns is being inflicted by non other than southerners themselves. Sure the leader of some of the extremist groups are Isaaq, but they too want to destroy Somaliland.
Furthermore, why are all the problems of greater Somalia always being placed at the door step of Somaliland? If their is a drought in the region is that TOO Somaliland's fault? CMon this utter rubbish!
Warya,
Blame your 2-ounce brains for the suffering of your people not on Somaliland. We have not caused you any harm and at the same token we do not care whether you eat or kill each other. The whole world is fed up of your stupidity. Look at yourselves on the mirror before you displace your problems and blame others for your self-inflicted harm.
Brother please re-read my post. I think you have a reading and comprehension problem lool. And no I have never tried to measure my brain size. Tell me if you know a way :)
Abdi you are an imposter and I can confirm that. For your information Somaliland will sooner or later be recognized, but what is more important is that Somalilanders recognize themselves and have pride and confidence in the ability and self worth. On the other hand you must have a sinister motive to claim that we enjoy or condone the suffering of our brothers in Somalia. In fact the opposite is true. We wish them luck, peace and prosperity and when it comes to the Habasha and the other Africans, our brothers in Somalia have better friendship to the point of inviting them sort out their problems for them and whatever decision they take is the prerogative.
For pass twenty years we (Somaliland) have been role model for African and Muslim nations to come.
I want to ask some questions: When Somaliland was in the union, did you view yourself as somali nationalists? how long time did you have plans about leaving the union? since april 1980? is there any thing Somalia can do which will get somaliland to return to the union?
Somaliland didn't want to be in union since 1961 after constitution was ratified by southerners in their favor and Somaliland votes against union was rejected by the newly union from government in the south.
If you were oppressed since 1961, then why did you first rebel in 1981? and what was so terrible about sharing a country with fellow somalis?
havent you not heard about the 'dabargoynti issaqa' the letter by Somalia's intelligence stating their aim to extinguish the issaq clan and maybe then replace them with ogaden and darood well thats whats wrong with sharing a country with you. We advocated the union in the first place but then we were taken for grantage after siyad came to power. the oppression started much later than 1960's. You can deny it or say whatever you like. But it was our fault for uniting with south Somalia we threw our independence away for the love of somalinimo and then got slap in the face so we walked away and never turning back, NEVER regardless of recognition or not
well when you use all your weapons, all your air forces and all your army to kill your own people rather than to protect your citizens is whats wrong with sharing a country with Somalia. So the only thing Somalia can do is to go and build their country and think about how they can bring peace back to their people because Somaliland is gone forever.
" … is there anything Somalia can do which will get Somaliland to return to the union?" What do you think you can do? You can't do anything for yourselves or keep your house in order, so what makes you think you can do something for us. There is nothing you can do to persuade Somaliland to return to the union. In regard to, did you view yourself as Somali Nationalists? If we were not nationalists we would not have run to you handing over our sovereignty with blind sisterly love. And what did we get? Death and destruction. NOOOOOOO thanks. We are not interested.
Cool down, Hiiraan online is a somali website nothing wrong about working with them! but I know you will be so happy if it was a british newspaper they had coped from? like your grandad….
Our fellow countrymen from south turned into a vampire unfortunately
The sooner our Southern brothers/sisters get the point that Somaliland is GONE AND WILL NEVER RETURN, the sooner they can solve their internal problems. The sad thing is that 97% of South Somalis still dream of bringing back Somaliland by force. SAD DREAM INDEED.
and about 50% of the people in somaliland want to be independent somely isaaq not the rest of the clans.SAD DREAM REALLY AS IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. As a dhulbahnate i will never late a son of a isaaq control my home city the city that i was born in, no longer than 3 more years. inshallah, allah knows the wrong and the right, and indeed we the dhulbahnte are right as we intend to harm no one and take over no oher tribes territory
Brothers you all talk about my tribe this my tribe that, indeed that's why both state is failing and will fail in the future because we stil stuck in the past. Please let's forget the past and teach our children of the wonderful country and culture we have. Let's help and build our country.
The reason why people like NSS & Ali Hussein talking like this is we, Somalilander receive their displaced ones and those in diasporas families are enjoying the peace we have in our towns back in Somaliland and they are on our throat everywhere while we keep their love ones in Hargeisa, Burao, Borame and other cities in Somaliland. If we check them out and close the business they have they woul'nt have done this to us.
Its about time, that our government and public, specially the young jobless graduates to harass those in our town to enable them to run the business they do our country. We must not welcome these people anymore and those of us, who share business with them must own that business for themselves.
That is advocating violence against innocent people, very un-Islamic indeed.
My suggestion to the people of the south is worry more about solving the internal problems they have in mogadishu rather than their constant fixation with somaliland. There is a saying that god only helps those who help themselves. I believe the unity problems of north somaliland and somalia stemmed from us rushing to unite without both parties building state instituitions that were strong enough and robust enough, this has subsiquentkly led to the problems of unity. As a somalilnader i am not entirely against re-uniting with the south, but we are long way away from that and it would be a tough job convincing the people of somaliland to reunite with their southern brothers, that's why i say once there is a democratic and functioning government in the south then the somaliland people should vote in one final referendum to decide whether they wish to rejoin with the south. The south in the meantime should get their house in order, and then we shall see.
To guaid aden,
Hey warya, don't pretend to be a true Somalilander because you are a fascash guy who dreams about Somaliland. Forget it for our own good or keep dreaming loser.
It is all about clan politics and no clan in Somalia is united. That is the truth.
Inta ay goori goortahy caqligu ha shaqeeyo. Waxa koofur ka socda waa faragalin shisheeye mana qabo in Waqooyi hal maalin ka badbaadi lahaayd haddi faragalintan shisheey ay ka dhici lahayd.
Billad ayay astaahilaan dadka reer koofureed waayo waa dad wali xor ah oo nool.
Walee dadl u babac dhigi kara waxa halkaa ka dhacay waa wuu yaryahay.
Maryooley ha tashato haddii kale waa la yeelan.
@Boqoljire,
I could not agree more. It is time that we draw a line in the sand.
I honestly think Somalia is too obsessed with uniting. Despite the immediate challenges that they have, they are still not able to concentrate on the mayhem around them. Why? I thought the stability of Somaliland would spare them on and be less of a burden. This obsession has been their demise but they are unable to see that.
I can't help but think that the only reason could be because….. they need us to help them and would rather have our help then any other nation. Even though they may still not like us I think this shows Somalia somehow prefer us to others or may be they think we are obligated to???. Whether this is good enough I am not sure? I still think they harbour some hate for us which is unwarranted and unjustified.
Unrecognised or not Somali landers don't think what is happening in Somalia is solvable until they empower their own to help themselves first. No one can help them until they help themselves.
watch your language, by talking like that you disrespect us all
The biggest problem in the South is that an entire generation grew up to adulthood without seeing a single day of peace and tranquilly. The whole concept of government, law and order, and citizenship is completely alien to this unfortunate generation. Moreover, the Somali tradition of respect and loyalty to the community leaders and tribal elders totally vanished during the last twenty years because such leadership positions were constantly abused by ruthless warlords who cared about nothing but their personal gains. In the eyes of the youth, these traditional positions of power became associated with violence, grand theft, corruption, immorality and everything that is contrary to civility. As a result of this lack of structure and role models, the South sled into an slippery slope of perpetual anarchy. Continued below…..
Understandably, the problem of the South's deep desire to see Somaliland return could be due to the fact that the politicians, the Diaspora, and most of older people now living in the South know this rooted anarchy in Somalia could be ended easily if Somaliland rejoined and took a leadership role by moving the capital from Mogadishu to Hargeisa where we have already got every state institution you can think of and no violent opposition to the rule of law. Had Somaliland done this, the only thing that remained would be an all out invasion of the South to get rid of the terrorists and the other enemies of peace. With all the other pro-peace groups, this task of cleansing the South of the bad boys would then be a piece of cake.
Well Said Saheeb. Why do the leaders of Kofuria foucs on how to save the people of Mogadhcio rather than talk about the a people who wish nothing to do with them.
Somalia needs to plan tirelessly on how they can achieve peace and government before the notion of unity. Unity is beautiful only when it can work and when hearts and minds are united and when there can be trust but that trust is long gone and Somaliland is not in a position position to re-unite with Somalia especially when Somalia is in this state and when uncertainty is sky high. So first fix up for goodness sake and then we can have a dialogue and discuss the issue
@Abraham,
Only the people of Somalia can solve the problems of their country. It has nothing to do with Somaliland whatsoever.
"Waaryaadha kala quusanaye, qoomamo la'aada", Farah Nuur (AHUN).
Any one thinking of reunion is day dreaming. Reunion of Somaliland and Somalia is over and done with, I hope Somalians will understand this and concentrate on resolving their problems. Forget about Somaliland deal with your problems Somalia!
I always see similar comments saying leave us alone but I never seen someone questioning whether you can stand alone as a country or not. Somalia is your nation and without reuniting with it you have no possibilities if success or to exist.
how did you come up with that brother,your comment proofs that darood are a cross between habashi and monkeys.first of all Somaliland is already the most developed,succesful and advanced place were Somalis live in so you are wrong.but it is not your fault your mother was a dirty darood and you father was a dirty darood also so your are obviously going to be a dirty darood
Somalian/Somalis does that mean people in Hargisa, Burco, Borama and lasAnod are not Somalian? If people don't see any benefit in unity, no problem let us go in our ways. That means, no unity for Somalia/Somaliland and Putland. Let Hargisa and Mogadishu govern themselves while all other cities will work out their own. Some people tried to created cultural differences between North and South. After 20 years that door is shut and we go back to basics. Build Somalis from the bottom. There won't be any political bonds between Somalis where every province get its own. No body want unity right then there won't be semi-regional unity such as Putland and Somalia. One can't tell people doesn't want Somali unity at the same time campaigning for Somaliland unity or Putland. It will ironic to rejected Somali unity and seek regional unity.
No it's not ironic. It's easy because one is possible and successful. While the other has proven to be impossible and too far fetched.
Besides may be you haven't noticed but there is a severe drought in East Africa and I much rather campaign for people started making real efforts to send money to their loved ones at these harsh times then concern ourselves on politics.
Subxanallah! HOL is the vilest of blogs and here we are publishing their bull("what is authorities"?). An employed guy who hallucinated on being an English journalist with plenty of hatred and discrimination, should not be allowed to disseminate articles on SL web sites.
No brotha. Do not get things twisted. The HOL crew are descent folks for the most part. They try their utmost to remain neutral. They rightly avoided not to publish any of the SL-PL conflicts as well the SSC skirmishes to avoid trouble. They know what is at stake with Somaliland and the realities of the conflicts in the north. So give them a break Moe lool.
Forum respondents on this website are so anti-Mogadishu it is quite shocking. Show some respect please to your fellow Somalis. It was "Mogadishu" people, notably Mohamed Farah Aideed, who chased the tyrant Barre out of Somalia. It was the people of Mogadishu that sacrificed their lives to get truly rid of the tyrant who has been murdering them as well as the people of Somaliland.
Let's not lie to ourselves; it was the people of Xamar and the south, collectively as the USC that truly made Somaliland free by chasing Barre into Nigeria and never setting foot in Somalia ever again. The reason why Somaliland is it's own independent nation and running its own affairs and the criminals are not bombing Hargeisa and Burco is because the people of Mogadishu were the ones that got rid of this man.
Please, show some respect to Mogadishu. They are the ones that got rid of the man within 1 year while we have been trying for over 10 years. Please refrain from insulting them. They are good people.
@ muse, you call yourself a Somalilander? No, you are not. You are an imposter and a liar too. People from Mogadisho did not free Somaliland from Siyaad. Actually all Somalis including people from Mogadisho (with an exception of only one dignified pilot who refused to kill his fellow country men and then dropped the weapons into the sea and landed the fighter jet in Jabouti) have destroyed Somaliland and don't give us that bulls*t lies by trying to discredit the effort of SNM to free our country from that tyrant and give the people of Mogadisho a credit they don't deserve. Our SNM heroes are the ones who got rid of Siyaad Barre and his aides and chased them to the south so that th people from the south can handle the remaining of weak and broken government. So, get your facts straight, m*r*n!
And you said people from all stripes of Somalia destroyed Somaliland? That's true. Dahir Riyale, Somaliland's former President, was the highest in command in Berbera for the Siad Barre government. He knew of the atrocities that were going on in Hargeisa and Burco. He obviously had a part in the destruction of Somaliland.
Did you know Siad Barre's personal doctor hailed from Burco and that doctor even went to Nigeria with him after Barre was ousted? A man that was so loyal to Barre and was his personal doctor and kept being his personal doctor even after his family and relatives were being bombed in Hargeisa.
Yes, all Somalis were part of the destruction of Somalia, and that includes Somalilanders. Not people from Mogadishu, not people from Brava, not people from Kismayo, not people from Hiiraan, not people from Puntland but EVERYONE.
SNM are hereos but you have to face the facts; Siad Barre was gotten rid of by USC and not SNM. I have a feeling I am going to be banned from this website but whatever. People on this website are so ignorant and no one wants to hear the truth.
@Muse,
I am afraid, the nub of your narrative is too naive and pathetic. Thus it does not warrant a response.
As for showing respect to the people of Moqadisho, we have nothing against them. We are just begging them to leave us alone – is it too much to ask…….?
My statement is not naive or pathetic. It is the truth.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking them to leave us alone. In fact, they do leave Somaliland alone. Many prominent people from Mogadishu have supported S/Land and to let us run our own affairs.
People from Xamar are the most supportive of S/Land in terms of letting us run our own affairs and also by not putting their nose in Somaliland affairs.
The people that do not want to leave u Somalilanders alone are the Puntlanders and others.
You are clearly confusing Mogadishu with other Somalis, such as people from Puntland.
People on these forums are always attacking people from Mogadishu. Why? Out of any region in Somalia, Xamar is the most supportive of S/Land's ambition to go at it on their own. And at the same time, you people always mention Xamar; the people who support S/land the most. The problem is to the EAST of you… PUNTLAND. But people on here never mention that. They just go after Mogadishu. Easy target?
Listen Pal we do not have anything against the people of Konfuria but the reality is that they should help themselfes instead of talking about some wild dreams. The union you talk about was dead before it was even signed. you should help the Ceelsah biyaaha before even writen a word.
that is the frank truth to you and the two Sherifs.
@Muse,
I understand that "the people of Mogadisho" and "SNM" are euphemisms for the Hawiye and Isaq clans, respectively.
Before I briefly comment on your naive, superficial and somewhat myopic views on whom liberated Somaliland, let me ask you two very basic questions. Were the Hawiyes having the time of their life during the 8 years (1980–1988) whilst the Isaqs were fighting against the brutal dictator? Were they, the Hawiyes, so appalled and moved by the atrocities meted out to the innocent Isaq women and children in the 1980s that they felt they had to do something to support their "Somali brethren in the North"?
Unfortunately, the answer to both questions is no. Then you may ask, if the Hawiyes were suffering under the dictator, why did they not pick up arms, like the Isaqs, and fight him? The reason is because of their geographical location – check the map – they could not do until they were pretty certain that Bare's military power was irreversibly depleted first. We all know that this opportunity came to front in late 1988, when Siyad Bare was weak and bleeding to death by the then ongoing war in what was, then the northern part of the now defunct Somali Republic. With a little bit of encouragement from the SNM group, the Hawiyes did not waste the opportunity and immediately turned the tables on their arch-enemy and tormentor.
In that case, the question for you now is who liberated whom? The answer should be self-evident.
Think about it. Hadn't the SNM and their Isaq and Esse supporters sacrificed everything to confront the dictator head on in the late 1980s, today you would have had a Jabrti kingdom. A kingdom in which Darod were the high cast, Gadabuursi and Rahanwein were the "middle cast", and the rest including the Hawiye and Isaq clans were the lower cast.
Well said, Hargeisawi. I couldn't agree more!
darood is the bogie man for isaqs. lol allah knows best.
Was the SNM or USC which chased Barre out of Office? history doesn't lie besides, Somali recent history can be found around the world what actually happened in 1990s. This is what happened SNM fought Barre using hit and run tactics in the 80s even captured Hargisa and Burco short time. The reason Hargisa was bombed was because SNM wasn't better than Bare without having any long-term goals. SNM was chased all the way cross to Easter Eth. Everthough SNM northern single clan based rebels did some damages to Barre's soldiers, they didn't hold on to Hargisa and Burco because Barre's army was too powerful.
Fortunately or unfortunately SNM came in again in the North Feb. 1991 but Barre's was ousted Jan. 1991 what these dates tells us is without the USC SNM wouldn't have succeed in any way if they were how come they fought more than 10 years without keeping a single Somali town? Anyway both SNM, USC and Barre can be all put in situation all for destruction of Somalia and its people. No Somali clan based can be succeeded an example of that USC fought themselves after other Somalis left the scene and this will also face SNM when other Northern leave some already done it.
" No Somali clan based can be succeeded an example of that USC fought themselves after other Somalis left the scene and this will also face SNM when other Northern leave some already done it"
lol You Wish……and for your information SNM do not exists since 1993
it's funny to see hate full people like you, going around and hopping the dead and destruction of the Republic of Somaliland and it's people. I'm sorry to disappoint you but it will not happen…but keep hating…."HI HATER, HI HATER"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxra2Nn7K9Y
I don't know why some people keep repeating SNM this SNM that…SNM retaliated and defended their people from shear and utter destruction and they succeeded on that obviously with the help of Allah and yes Siyad's army was too powerful after all it was a whole government vs single clan government yet we succeeded to drive him out and that was the help of Allah since we were fighting for our right the right to live in dignity. However, once the beast was injured it became an opportunity for USC to finish him and this is when SNM AND USC became allies not before that. Neverthless, USC (hawiye) were fierce in fighting and they have chased him out of Somalia with their huge army but went over the limit in killing huge number of innocent daroods. So I don't know what the whole fuzz is all about. There are too many haters in this website and their problem is issaq and SNM. There is no more SNM now and we want to put history behind us.
correction: single clan rebels i meant
as to muse who thinks this website is anti Mogadishu is just nuts and misunderstood the whole situation. Because if you are referring to issaq and hawiye, they get along the most, they run businesses together in hargaisa, burco and many places, they have no grudge against eachother at least not that I know of. Somaliland is not anti-hawiye or anti xamar we just only differ in one aspect which is the separation of Somaliland and Somalia. They hawiye is completely against the separation of Somalia/Somaliland and I don't think it is due to hate maybe just that they only want unity but they should understand that Somaliland made a firm decision. This websites and most of the somalilanders who comment here is against joining Somalia not hating them but against joining and we think that its crazy they are still killing each-other whatever the reason we just hope that they find a way of bringing peace back to Somalia because the people their is FED UP of dying everyday and they are fed up to still be refugees dying of hunger, disease etc.
Viva Somaliland and I am eternally grateful to the SNM for giving us freedom for the past 20 years.
Viva SNM greatest heros in Somaliland history.
Do you remember how you were doing before SNM?
Yes I do. In 1977 or towards the end of that year my family and others who were civil servants in Mogadishu were warned to leave or face imprisonment /death. We left to Somaliland leaving our belongings our lively hoods our life. It didn't end there because of course Siad Barre's murders began to deny people of Somaliland proper living conditions or to be treated humanely which then resulted in people leaving for their own security to neighbouring countries and outside Africa. Bring about the birth of the SNM to liberate its people which I will always be gratefull for as many of my family continued to stay and fight with them.
How about you????
Wake up guys we're in twenty first century how we can afford to carry the ancient tribesmen's mentalities and way of thinking. World is changed and no country can survive alone. We need to have strong relationship/trade with our neighbor nations. We need peace and economic growth otherwise we are not going to have future. Remember god intended you to be a Somali but nothing else.
@ Mohamed Mohamed, The only country that is trying to survive alone is South Somalia. They don't want anything to do with their neighbouring countries and they even go the sea to wage war on anyone who they find. The hostility comes from their not Somaliland. Why don't you worry about why being Somali is so hard? Why does everyone have to prove being Somali or explain it or advocate for it? Do you have to tell you're family you're basic rights and expectations all the time and not to mention fight off their constant violations of you're right of existence?
Why don't ask you're self? Why do we need to remind ourselves of who we are again and again and again? Why are we denied to live peacefully with out someone pointing at you or claiming more then you? If it is that simple and we are Somali then Why can't we give people their rights?????????
It is inconceivable that a non-existing Somalia is insistent on the return of Somali land to the fold of the collapsed Republic of Somalia. They claim that Somali land is one of the regions of Somalia. By this they are denying C's statehood before the union of the two independent parties. They also are belittling the damage they inflicted on Somali land during dictator Barre's reign. This kind of behavior will no do any good between Somali land and Somalia. We, the people of Somali land, want to forget the excesses of Somalia and live with them in peace each in his area.