Analysis

Scott A. Morgan

March 14, 2007 – There is an underlying problem within Somalia. Most pundits don’t refer to it when they discuss the issue on TV. Nor do the African Specialists when they brief their home Governments. The question is easy to ask but the answer has everyone scratching their heads. The question is what will be the status of Somaliland?

First of all what exactly is Somaliland? Somaliland is the area of Somalia that was known as British Somaliland before the Second World War. It was the base of the Allied Effort to restore the previous Government in Ethiopia after it was invaded by Fascist Italy.

Somalia itself came into being back in 1960 with the merging of the two regions known as British and Italian Somaliland. However after the fall of the Siyad Barre regime in 1991 Somaliland itself was a virtually Independent State that was not recognized by the International Community much to the dismay of the people of that region.

While there was a transitional Government in Baidoa and Anarchy in Mogadishu there was a functioning Government in Hargeysa. While the rest of the country became the battlegrounds of warlords stability reigned in the North. But the World still did not notice the calm. But that is changing finally.

It is widely known that Somaliland has close ties with Britain. But other actors are also paying attention as well. Recently there has been a mission from the African Union on a fact-finding mission. Those who are trying to seek funding and other aid from the United States have testified in front of the Congress. Similar initiatives are underway to work with the European Union as well.

Like every other state in History Somaliland has suffered through growing pains as it grows as a Nation. Currently there are members of a newspaper that are in Jail. Several Groups including Amnesty International consider them to be prisoners of conscience. Freedom of the Press is a basic right in most countries. The quick and speedy resolution of this problem could assist in having the Major Powers recognize the legitimacy of an independent Somaliland. They have been functioning as an Independent State for more than a decade so what is the world waiting for?

Scott Morgan is a Human Rights Activist and Commenter on US Policy in Africa.

Source: The American Chronicle