The recognition of the Republic of Somaliland has been pending for seventeen years. She is unique among all the territories, which are claiming recognition (e.g. Western Sahara, Northern Cyprus ) because she has already been a recognized independent sovereign state from the day (26 June 1960) that the British Protectorate of Somaliland ended. The state of Somaliland made a (sort of) union with the state of Somalia on 1 July 1960: there was no stipulation that the union was any more than a trial or experiment which might be ended at any time if it proved unsuccessful or ill-advised by either party; as happened with Egypt and Syria from 1959 to 1961.

In June 1961 the government of the Somali Republic (commonly, but erroneously, called Somalia , which is the name of the Southern half of the Somali Republic ) held a referendum in order to establish the opinion of the population concerning the one-year old union. The Somalia state (southern half of the Somali Republic ) voted to continue the union, while the Somaliland state (northern half of the Somali Republic ) voted - overwhelmingly - to end the Union . At that point - by all the sane rules of common sense - the Union ought to have been ended, gracefully, as happened to the Egypt and Syria Union in 1961. But, instead of quietly accepting a failed union, the result of the Referendum was blatantly ignored by the Government of the Somali Republic in Mogadishu .

After a few months, on 9 December 1961, young officers seized power in Hargeysa Somaliland by a coup d'etat in order to make plain the complaint of the North that the Referendum had been ignored. The army officers faced a court martial on the charge of Treason. The presiding judge, having heard the case, dismissed the charges and acquitted the accused officers since the court had no jurisdiction to try them, because there had never been a formal, ratified, Act of Union of the two states, namely Somaliland and Somalia. These facts should be proof enough that the Somali Republic has not existed since 1991, when Somaliland declared itself independent and, from then on, completely separate from Somalia. The years 1960 to 1991 for Somaliland had been grim subjection by the dictatorship in Mogadishu , capital of the Somali Republic .

On 18 May 1991 the government of the former Somali Republic (in Mogadishu) found itself completely impotent - except for its seat in UN, where Somaliland was regarded as a "rogue state" - because the army of the Somali Republic had been defeated and driven from the territory of Somaliland state. This was another occasion for the disastrous, un-ratified and unorganized union of 1 July 1960 to have been peacefully ended.

Since 1991 Somaliland has rebuilt itself both materially and governmentally. She has all the attributes of a respected nation in high morale due to the patriotism firmly established on democratic principles. It is un-surprising that the population are a bit bewildered and frustrated that the United Nations, remain silent, deaf, blind and united against the request for recognition.

The future is bleak indeed. But the religious faith of the population has unbounded patience (there is, of course, no alternative) with the dilatory and corrupt refusal of powerful nations of The African Union and The Arab League to recognize the Republic of Somaliland . Outside those two effete but wealthy organizations, no country is prepared to challenge this wanton risk to world stability. To uncover the true, real reasons for this non-recognition and denial of the nation of Somaliland, would embarrass nations which need the support - material, political and strategic - of countries, who, for dubious moral reasons, demand that Somaliland reunite with the anarchy in today's Somalia .

Countries with influence (or courage) are asked to reconsider this policy before it is too late, and Al Qaeda make a foot-hold in this open defenseless land, which (de jure) is still part of Mogadishu.

The difference - ignored carelessly in 1960 for the purpose of a dreamlike greater Somali Nation - between Somaliland and Somalia is the difference between democracy (the pragmatism and benevolence of Ramsay MacDonald and Stanley Baldwin) and dictatorship (the fascism of Benito Mussolini). Those were the formative, maturing years for both the Protectorate and the colony: both totally different. It shows today and will continue until UN allows Somaliland to separate, and UN removes this dangerous, unnecessary risk to world stability, sense and security.

Annex: "Rebuilding Somaliland " page 10.

"All in the family" page 24. .

Dr. Kim Howells visit 17 June 2008

T.D. Kenyon

28 June 2008

4040-07 – 5 Oct 2007

Dear Mr Kenyon

Thank you for your email of 2 October, to the Foreign Secretary, about UK policy towards the recognition of Somaliland . I am replying as the Desk Officer for the Horn of Africa. I apologize for the delay in responding to your letters of 20 December 2006 and 16 September 2007.

We currently do not recognize Somaliland as an independent state; neither does the rest of the international community. The UK has signed up to a common EU position and to many UN Security Council Presidential Statements, which refer to the territorial integrity and unity of Somalia . Nevertheless, the UK is aware of the position of the Somaliland authorities and of opinion within Somaliland . Our policy has long been that the Somali people themselves should determine their future relationship and that their neighbors and other African countries should take the lead in recognizing any new arrangements.

We have urged the Somaliland authorities and the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia to engage in dialogue so that a mutually acceptable solution for their future relationship can be agreed. We are also encouraging the African union to explore the issue further with the parties and key players in the region.

We are of course encouraged by the very good progress that the Somaliland authorities have made on democracy. The UK is one of the leading donors in Somaliland . The UK contributes approximately 30-40% of its assistance to Somalia to Somaliland . In 2006/7 UK Government's framework for our Somalia programme was £15 million, increasing up to £21m in 2007/8. Projects include those addressing health, education, democratization, employment and reconciliation.

The UK continues to engage with the Somaliland authorities to encourage further improvements in democratization and governance and to support the progress being made in establishing basic services.

Yours sincerely

8602-08 – 15 Feb 2008

Thank you for your letter of 9 January, to the Foreign Secretary, about UK policy towards the recognition of Somaliland . I am replying as the Desk Officer for the Horn of Africa.

In your letter you refer to previous correspondence that you have sent to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I wrote to you in response to your letter of 2 October 2007 on 5 October 2007. My letter was sent to the email address that you supplied. I enclose a copy of that letter.

Further to my previous letter, I would like to confirm that we continue to urge the Somaliland authorities and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Somalia to engage in dialogue so that a mutually acceptable solution for their future relationship can be agreed. The Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, discussed this with both President Yusuf of the TFG and Mr Dahir Rayale, the leader of the Somaliland authorities, in London in January, with representatives of the Somaliland authorities at the African Union Summit on 1 February and with members of the Somaliland parliament in London on 6 February. We are also encouraging the African Union to explore the issue further with the parties and key players in the region.

Whilst we are encouraged by the progress that the Somaliland authorities have made on democratization, we recognize that further improvements need to be made. With local and presidential elections due to be held in Somaliland in July and August 2008, we are particularly concerned that these elections take place at the appointed time and in a free, fair and peaceful manner. Lord Malloch-Brown has highlighted to the Somaliland authorities the danger of Somaliland losing international support if the progress on democracy and human rights already achieved is eroded.

Box 4630

Abu Dhabi

22 nd March 2008

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Dear Lord Malloch - Brown,

Thank you for letters of the Horn of Africa Desk 4040 of 5 th October 2007 and 8602 of 15 th February 2008. .

Somaliland people of all walks of life and every level of society continue to respect, follow and admire patiently - British ways of Education and Diplomacy. They warmly appreciate the considerable generous aid of UK each year for health, education, democratization, employment and reconciliation.

FCO Letter 8602 of 15th February 2008 states: -

"We ( Britain ) continue to urge the Somaliland authorities (The President with his Cabinet, Hargeysa) and TFG in Somalia ( Mogadishu ) to engage in dialogue so that a mutually acceptable solution for their future relationship can be agreed".

The future relationship of Hargeysa and Mogadishu shall belike that - today - of Dublin and London : that is as normal, neighboring, sovereign and Recognized countries, both historically and currently. This is understood by Hargeysa, but not yet by Mogadishu , who hope to reassert their dominance over Somaliland . Only Recognized separate independent, sovereign states will foster enduring peace.

The overbearing ruthless vicious conduct of the South ( Mogadishu ) (1960-1991) has left a permanent and deep rooted hate in the North (Hargeysa, Somaliland ), which is now usually under the surface because both countries have been separate for seventeen years. This should and must be accepted as a fact, which will remain, and will always nullify Mogadishu 's attempts to reunite and predominate again.

The need for Somaliland 's international Recognition is paramount. Further delay is risking conflict and bloodshed: like, for example, Indonesia 's War to entrap Timor-Leste and, nearer home, Ethiopia and Eritrea . UN and AU wait.. ….. .. ... ... ... ... ..,

Below are two extracts of the numerous articles in pamphlets and newspapers, which make similar serious warnings, week after week.

"It is time Britain changes course", Peter Tatchell, Human Rights Campaigner.

"If. .. peace and stability is to be returned to the Horn of Africa it is important to understand that Somaliland will under no circumstances surrender its sovereignty. . .” again - (as was done on 1 July 1960) (Once bitten twice shy).

The Republican 26 January 2008.

Britain gave Somaliland sovereignty and Recognition 26 June 1960. On 1 July 1960 a union for a "Greater Somalia" was formed, voluntarily - (unfortunately and disastrously); that union terminated for ever on 18 May 1991, when Somaliland returned to its sovereignty and the internationally Recognized Independence of 26 June 1960.

T. D. KENYON University of Hargeysa

Source: Somaliland Times

Home | Contact us | Links | Archives | Search