Somaliland Celebrates 25 Years As An Unrecognised Republic

Maximilien von Berg, National Interest: A Very Unhappy Birthday for Somaliland

At 25, the unrecognized republic is left to struggle alone.

On May 18 of this year, Somaliland turned twenty-five. Yet the anniversary is cause for a bittersweet celebration at best. Peace has improbably reigned since this enclave of the Horn of Africa obtained de facto independence in 1991. During those two and a half decades, the world has forgotten this unlikely outpost of functioning government, which has run free democratic elections since 2003 embedded in the chaos of the failed State of Somalia. As a result, 3.5 million Somalilanders have been raised stateless, victims of a legal asterisk that shuts them off from the world and—by extension—prosperity.

The African Union, based in neighboring Addis Ababa, is reluctant to grant Somaliland recognition. The AU and Ethiopia fear to trigger claims to independence in Africa, but in particular in the Ogaden region, whose independence claims it has long sought to stifle. Ethnic Somalis live in the Ogaden region and an unrecognized Somaliland has the dual benefit of weakening Somalia—Ethiopia’s rival—and Somaliland, whose roads the Abyssinian uses paying minimal taxes to reach the port of Berbera in the Gulf of Aden.

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WNU editor: Over the years I have posted a few stories on Somaliland ... but I am also guilty of not giving it the recognition that it deserves. This lack of attention is understandable .... the world's focus is on the disasters and chaos that are happening around Somaliland. Hmmm .... maybe the world should change its focus.

More News On Somaliland

Somaliland Celebrates 25 Years of Self-Declared Independence -- VOA
Somaliland wants world recognition of its independence -- AP
Breakaway Somaliland dreams port will boost independence -- AFP
Somalia: Somaliland leader urges calm after deadly clan clashes in Sool -- Garowe
Somaliland's quest to enforce rule of law -- DW
The grand Oriental hotel: Life inside Somaliland's timeless treasure -- James Jeffrey, CNN
Somaliland's Livestock Trade Revives After Year of Drought -- RFI
Somaliland rises from the rubble, 25 years after 'independence' -- RFI
Inside Somaliland: the tiny African state battling for survival -- Irish Times
Somaliland's Search for Place -- James Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs
Somaliland: Making a success of 'independence' -- Mary Harper, BBC