US policy towards Somaliland is on the right track

EDITORIAL

US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer’s visit to Somaliland was a win-win situation for both the United States and Somaliland. For the United States, the visit has cemented its budding relationship with a stable and proven ally in a dangerous part of the world. It has also answered Somali skeptics who argue that the United States is not really interested in working with moderate Somalis or in establishing democracy among Somalis. By landing in Hargeysa, the top US diplomat on Africa has shown that, indeed, the US is serious about supporting moderate and pro-democracy Somalis.

As far as Somaliland is concerned, Jendayi Frazer’s visit was a very important breakthrough on several levels:

- It broke Somaliland’s diplomatic isolation

- It raised Somaliland’s international profile

- It sent a strong a message to Somaliland’s friends and foes that the United States puts a high stock on its relationship with Somaliland

All of the above messages are important. But equally important, or even more important, is that the understandings, discussions, and points of agreement are translated into tangible programs as quickly as possible. The time factor is very important because, as it is, it already took a long time for the United States to finally take this bold step of openly embracing Somaliland.

Not only did Jendayi Frazer do the right thing by coming to Somaliland, but she also said the right things during her visit, particularly her emphasis on democracy and elections. This was the same message that Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown conveyed through his answer to Alun Michael’s question. The fact that Frazer met not only with the registered opposition parties, but also with the unregistered Qaran party, is a strong signal of the importance the US attaches to fairness and transparency in political competition. We hope Somaliland’s government has gotten the message.

No doubt, Jendayi Frazer’s visit is a big achievement for Somaliland’s foreign policy. Years of patient and persistent work have finally paid off. We congratulate Somaliland’s government for a job well done. It was a good day for American/Somaliland relations.

Source: Somaliland Times

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