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Puzzling Statement by Ethiopian Information Minister
The UN funded and owned news agency IRIN quoted Ethiopian Minister of Information Bereket Simon as insisting that the region’s [Somaliland’s] future lies in a united Somalia.
According to IRIN, Ethiopia “has rejected calls by Somaliland for international recognition”.
The IRIN article was released yesterday. However, due to IRIN’s history of negative and biased reporting about Somaliland, the article should be read with a grain of salt. Although IRIN used the word “rejected”, the Ethiopian Information minister only spoke about the wishes of the Ethiopian government and not about policy, still the news is disturbing.
Mr. Simon’s statement has already dismayed many Somalilanders. It is understood that Ethiopia has been under pressure lately by Qassim Salad and other anti-Ethiopian elements in the former Italian Somalia, but local observers believe that Ethiopia’s answer shouldn’t be to alienate a true friend.
The information minister’s reply is puzzling given the special relationship between Ethiopia and Somaliland, and the fact that it was made while Somaliland’s president and a high delegation were guests of the Ethiopian government.
The Ethiopian information minister’s statement is just the latest indication of serious shortcomings in Somaliland’s foreign policy.
Instead of making new friends, Somaliland is in danger of losing old ones. A big part of the problem is that Somaliland has not made strong and well-planned efforts to reach out to the world to make its case.
Peculiarly enough, Somaliland’s delegations abroad never hold press conferences, even in friendly Ethiopia, to explain their case. Ms Edna is an exception, but she is only one person.
The way Somaliland’s ministry of Information operates is also scandalous to say the least. The ministry follows the old-style of releasing raw, clumsy propaganda intended to promote or defend the government. Somaliland's public shows a lot of skepticism toward the government's media due to its poor credibility. With the exception of IRIN, the ministry has failed to develop links with the foreign media to attract them into covering big newsworthy events in Somaliland. Not a single foreign TV network arrived in Somaliland to cover the country’s two electoral exercises.
Although Somaliland’s cause is not popular among Arab governments, yet the ministry of Information could have built contacts in the Arab media. There is no reason why Somaliland doesn’t build bridges with the independent media such as Al Jazeera. If Darman could get Al Jazeera’s attention, why not Somaliland? Moreover, unlike Somalia, there is an Arabic press in Somaliland which means there are enough people who understand Arabic, which in turn should make it easier to engage Arab media and audiences.
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