The recent invitation of a Somali delegation to visit the US and hold talks with the US administration was a positive though long overdue step. It was positive step for the US because it helps in correcting the widely held view among Somalis that the US administration is not interested in contributing towards the development and reconstruction of either Somaliland or Somalia, and is only pursuing a narrow and militarized agenda. The evidence that those who hold this view often point to is the absence of any worthwhile US involvement in development and reconstruction of Somaliland. The US cannot even use the excuse that there is no peace or government institutions to deal with in Somaliland, because there has been peace and a functioning government in Somaliland for the last twenty years. The visit also blunts criticism of US diplomats for not coming to Somaliland and seeing things for themselves rather than conducting long-distance diplomacy from Nairobi, Djibouti or Washington. Again, the issue of security cannot be used as an excuse because Somaliland is secure enough that it receives a steady stream of diplomats, government ministers, and even princes, from around the world and the only exception is American officials or diplomats who ironically are the ones who make the biggest and most frequent noise about Somali affairs.
The visit was also a boost for Somaliland on a symbolic and substantive level. On a symbolic level the invitation of the Somaliland delegation to the United States highlights the importance of Somaliland in the region. The fact that one of the locations where the Somaliland delegation held talks with the US was the White House helps in making this crystal clear.
On a substantive level, although it is too early to assess the long-term impact of the visit, it was an excellent opportunity for Somaliland’s officials to directly present their views and agendas to the higher echelons of the US administration.
The visit was also a boost for Somaliland’s democracy in that although the delegation members were not just from the executive branch of government but also represented both parliament and the Upper House, they were able to work smoothly as a team and conveyed the message to their hosts that Somaliland’s foreign policy is bi-partisan or to be more accurate, tri-partisan.
To sum up, the US invitation to the Somaliland delegation is a good step, but in order for it to bear fruit, the US administration needs to raise its level of engagement with Somaliland both by regularly sending American government officials and diplomats to Hargeysa, as many other countries do, and by committing resources toward Somaliland’s development and reconstruction. Otherwise, Somalis will be in correct in concluding that the current US policy toward Somaliland is summed up by the Somali saying “Qawda maqashii waxna ha u qaban” which roughly translates to: “Make them hear some sound in the air so they will think you are doing something for them, when in fact you are doing nothing.”



























 

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