By By Yassin M. Ismail, Kent UK

Somaliland’s quest for international recognition is increasing fading into a mist of uncertainty. Despite continued efforts by the Hargeisa administration as well as individual campaigners to convince the international Community that Somaliland is worthy of the status, the world has been so far unequivocally reluctant to recognize Somaliland as sovereign entity. For Somaliland this is frustratingly distressing.

The United Kingdom was the latest to reiterate its long held position of non-recognition. According to a statement in reply to an e-petition to number 10 Downing Street, which was signed by thousands of Somaliland community members in the UK, requesting the British Prime Minster to recognize Somaliland, Tony Blair reaffirmed that Britain ‘does not recognize Somaliland’ and added that in doing so “the UK has signed up to a common EU position and to many UN Security Council’s Presidential Statements, which refer to the territorial integrity and unity of Somali”

The statement also “urged Somaliland and the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia to engage in dialogue so that a mutually acceptable solution can be reached.” For the organizers of the e-petition, the response from the British Prime Minister was received with wearisome disappointment.

The suggestion that Somaliland should seek mutual divorce from Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government in order to end the precipitate union of 1960, was perceived not only unfair and contemptuous of the unique legal and historic attributes of Somaliland that form the basis of the argument upon which Somaliland is seeking independence. The statement also illustrates the underlying impiety and double standards of Europe and the West in general: a suggestion that the people of Somaliland are deliberately being deprived of natural their right to Self-Determination.

For the people of Somaliland Self-Determination is a revival option after a quarter of a century of suffering under the Union of Somalia. For the past 16 years whilst the rest of Somalia was beset by anarchy and civil war Somaliland remained an oasis of calm and sanity. Its flourishing democracy and good governance have earned her the epithet ‘ Africa’s best kept secret.’ Numerous academic researches, including the American School of International Law and Politics have also confirmed the overwhelming legal and moral credentials of the Somaliland case. Yet Britain and the European Union chose to remain adamant to acknowledge the political destiny of Somaliland people.

The apparent indifference of the UK and the EU in showing appreciation of the achievements made by Somaliland and their inability to reward it accordingly is a clear manifestation that the west does not practice what they preach.

This explains the reason I have always been skeptical to the notion that Britain and other powerful western economies have the slightest regard for poor African countries, like Somaliland who are striving to raise their countries from the rubble and ruins of civil wars and build a better future for their children. So next time you hear Tony Blair referring Africa as ‘scar in conscience of humanity’ think twice.

In fact the opposite is true: Britain and most of the so-called G8 countries are particularly responsible for much of the adversity that crippled Africa.

Take for instance, the Slave Trade: This week, both the Queen and Tony Blair attended a service celebrating the 200 th anniversary since the abolition of the Slave Trade. But Tony Blair failed to apologize his country’s role in this brutal history. Compare this with the Japanese who last week apologized the so-called ‘Sex Slavery’ during World War II, then you understand the West’s cynical perception of justice and equality.

Meanwhile in Africa each day is a moaning day as Africa continues to bear the brunt of centuries of slavery, economic exploitation, racial brutality, inequality, prejudice and injustice.

So Forget about the so-called Millennium Development Goals and Fair Trade: even the fuss about saving the planet from global warming is not as honest and straight forward as it sounds. Ask the Indians of what they think or anyone from the newly industrialized countries, and they will tell you that Global warming is not an issue of immediate concern for them.

In contrary they believe these goals are intended to slow down their economic progress. That restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions imposed on developing countries are unfair as they do not take into account of demographical indices of carbon emission rates contributed by already industrialized countries such as the USA who are responsible for over 23% of Greenhouse emissions and yet refused to sign up to the Kyoto agreement.

The so-called ‘Strategic Development Goals’ is also inspired by political spin and nothing more than a carefully constructed gimmick aimed to bewilder the gullible nations of Africa and the third world into thinking that perhaps the West all of sudden become interested in saving the planet. The question is who is kidding who?

In Somaliland the denial of international recognition is undermining any prospects of economic development in that country to an extent similar to economical embargo. Hence Somaliland will never achieve the so-called Millennium Development Goals.

Now that you know the West are up to no good, perhaps I should return to the main topic in discussion in an attempt to tinkle the minds of our politicians into exploring other possible options that Somaliland could consider in pursuit for recognition or in the lack of it, alternative partnerships with other world powers.

That is where China comes into my hypothetical theory as the next prospective patron.

Yes, the enormous China is the perfect candidate indeed.

Imagine Somaliland becoming the new Peking in Africa by establishing long term strategic political and economic partnership with the People’s Republic of China and providing a gateway for the world’s most populous and economically fastest-growing super power to do trade with Africa.

Our strategic position in the Horn of Africa also favors strategic economic partnership with China as we happen to be in perfect position to be a hub for China to tab on to the rich mineral resources including oil and gas.

Perhaps we could go the extra mile by changing Somaliland’s ‘last name’ to China: [for instance how about making a minor amendment to our country’s name as ‘the Chinese Republic of Somaliland!”]

Initially it may sound incredibly remote and distant vision and some people could argue the suggestion is even ludicrous.

But hand on! For 75 years [1886 – 1960] we were British by way of national identity in every sense. We were known as ‘British Somaliland Protectorate’ and held British passports that even looked identical in appearance to the ones held by Britons in London and Liverpool.

In fact we felt so British that we even had to fight British wars and made the ultimate sacrifice in blood. Our fathers and grandfathers fought in Burma, France, Germany, North Africa and even in the Pacific.

So the idea of becoming Chinese shouldn’t be as scary as you may think.

I believe one of the reasons Somaliland had to agree to becoming a British Protectorate was the fact that at the time there existed a genuine fear of encroachment by the Abyssinia. Having been used and abused for centuries by the Ottomans, then the Portuguese and Abyssinians, followed by Egyptian caretakers after the departure of the Ottomans and then the British who came when we remained at greater risk of the Abyssinian onslaught. Somaliland has always been at the crossroads of many global changes. From their historical point of view the people of Somaliland seem to have mastered the art of surviving by proxy over centuries and these survival techniques have always been overriding necessities in order to adopt changes. And now this is a key to our future existence amidst of increasingly ever present dangers in the region.

With Ethiopia now emerging as the only dominant military power in the region backed by the world’s only remaining super power, the USA whose policy-makers have openly stated intentions to dominate and militarize any part of the world far or near where there is a drop of oil, I think it is about time we learned the Chinese alphabet.

Only this time, instead of being encroached by colonial powers into accepting a new identity we have the choice of making conscious decision to convert to Chinese if by doing so we can be convinced we have something to gain from such a merge and that the benefits outweigh the risks taken to both parties.

Now you see what I mean: the possibilities of political dynamics are endless. Over the past 50 years we have held and changed through three different national identities. So the idea of becoming Chinese is not altogether that scary at all. Particularly now when we are not recognized by any country; not even British whom we once believed we once belonged.

Somaliland’s strategic geographical position in the Horn of Africa and its oil reserves are key to furnishing a long term economic partnership with China. Just think about it.

[This article is not intended to advice the Government to compromise Somaliland’s sovereignty nor want to urge them to alter its current course. Instead, it is simple brainteaser aimed to encourage politicians to widen their horizons and shift their focus from where they are currently looking at.]

By Yassin M. Ismail, Kent UK

Email: yassinismail@aol.com