Ghana: Somaliland's International Isolation Draws Mixed Reactions in Accra

[Jacaylbaro]

Ghana: Somaliland's International Isolation Draws Mixed Reactions in Accra

 

 

Somaliland is a relatively unknown East African country in the Horn of Africa. She became a sovereign nation in 1947 after breaking the yoke of British colonialism and within its first week of her freedom entered into integration with Somalia. Come 1991, she withdrew from the integration and declared her independence.

 

On 18th May 2007, Somaliland marked her 16th anniversary of her independence from Somalia. The proclamation of independence was founded on basic requirements of international law which include a permanent population, defined territory, a stable system of government and the capacity to enter into international relations with other states.

 

For 16 years Somaliland has built up and projected a credible domestic political constituency in contrast to its southern neighbour, Somalia, where the United Nations, the African Union and the Transitional Federal Government are struggling to overcome internal divisions and assert national political authority.

 

However, Somaliland's success story in establishing and maintaining a functioning constitutional democracy remains a better-kept secret and denied international recognition. Somaliland is vigorously pursuing its moral, if not, legal, case for recognition at the African Union, an effort considered a sine qua non to wider international community.

 

This formed the subject matter of a Roundtable Discussion under the theme "Somaliland: A Case Study for Recognition" for the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra last Thursday.

 

Dr. Kwesi Aning, a lecturer at the KAIPTC, described the story of Somaliland as a tragic history in that a stable, functional and democratic State has been left out in mainstream international relation.

 

He recalled that the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) did not recognize Somaliland's independence, citing the maxim that there would be chaos if colonial boundaries were not observed in post-independence Africa.

 

But the OAU position was countered with the argument that Unions between Senegal and Gambia, and Egypt and Sudan, among others, broke down without affecting the recognition of these countries.

 

Dr. Aning pointed out that an African Union mission tasked to examine the Somaliland's case came out with a favourable report saying the case should not be linked to the notion of 'opening a Pandora's box'; as such, the AU should find a special method for dealing with this outstanding case.

 

"The lack of recognition ties the hands of the authorities and people of Somaliland, as they cannot effectively and sustainably transact business with the outside world and pursue development goals.

 

He regretted the AU's feet dragging over the issue because it is the AU that can send clear signals that Somaliland case is legal and has to be accepted.

 

He described as encouraging the engagement of Somaliland by some African States in trade and the recognition of her passport.

 

He said the crises faced by Somaliland are the dearth of information about the country; the fear that recognition would impact negatively on other states; the role of Ethiopia, among others.

 

Ambassador James Victor Gbeho disclosed that the United Nations (UN) Resolution 1514 relating to integration makes it almost impossible for countries in Unions to opt out.

 

While agreeing that Somaliland has a genuine case he was afraid that an AU decision couldn't override the UN Resolution. He "believed that it was going to be a difficult task to agitate for a breakaway".

 

On whether Ghana could use her position as Chair of AU to lead the call for the recognition of Somaliland, Ambassador Gbeho answered in the negative.

 

"We can engage them but then we should fight shy of leading the call for a separate state".

 

He was also of the view that Somaliland is a "small and non-viable State and in independence she would it difficult to subsist."

 

The Honorary Special Envoy of the Republic Somaliland, Mr. Steve Mawuenyega, says Somaliland's contention for breakaway is both political and legal.

 

He disclosed the Parliaments of both Somaliland and Somalia never ratified the integration and that in itself is both revealing and instructive.

 

He believed that bigger economies like the United States would toe the position of the AU on Somaliland.

 

Mr. Mawuenga regretted that some members of the Arab League like Egypt are jittery about Somaliland's breakaway from Somalia because it would adversely affect their economies.

 

 

 

Source AllAfrica

[Chimera]

Originally posted by Jacaylbaro:

Ghana: Somaliland's International Isolation Draws Mixed Reactions in Accra

 

 

Somaliland is a relatively unknown East African country in the Horn of Africa.

She became a sovereign nation in 1947

after breaking the yoke of British colonialism and within its first week of her freedom entered into integration with Somalia.

lol

 

In October 1961, the Somali President, Adan Abdulla, went on a state visit to Ghana, the first African State south of the Sahara to establish diplomatic relations with the republic. At the end of his stay he and President Nkrumah issued a joint communique, in which they expressed the view that 'outstanding frontier problems inherited from colonial regimes' could be solved by federation. They also recognised, however, 'the imperative need to restore the ethnic, cultural,and economic links arbitrarily destroyed by colonisation'