How does Somaliland fit?

[N.O.R.F]

By: ALI MOHAMED NOUR

 

June 21, 2005 -- So long as the Republic of Somaliland withdrew from the rest of Somalia and remained a peaceful and stable democratic State, it is shameful and regretful for the International Community to neglect the wishes of the people of Somaliland for self-determination and also expect to join willingly with their brothers in the south to reform a "Greater Somalia".

 

Definitely, political analyst can't over look that the Union can be only endorsed by the will of the two populations as in the case of former two Yemenis and Germanys. It is clear that Somali Landers were the founders of the Union into which they had voluntarily entered as an independent and sovereign State on July 1, 1960, with the former Italian Somaliland.

 

To day it is vise-verse, they are willingly neither for federalism nor re-Union. They also like to see a peaceful, stable, Somalia in order to act as a two brotherly States living side by side in a peaceful way. Then why the International Community neglects the people of Somaliland for Self-determination? Is it fair to do that? Does it deserve the International Bill of Rights? I don't think so. Article one of the International Bill of Rights refers to the right to Self-determination, as does the UN Charter in Article 1and 55. Interestingly enough, Somaliland's Self-determination is more conductive to regional peace and stability as Somaliland has strong capability of solving longstanding regional disputes with Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Djibouti due to its acceptance of the colonial boundaries.

 

Somaliland has achieved what none in similar circumstance in Africa or probably the whole world had achieved before. They planted the seeds of better democracy in a war-town country and maintained peace and stability within its territory of the former British Protectorate. On May 31, 2001, Somali Landers were called to vote in order to endorse or reject a new constitution that was badly proclaimed the case for independence. The constitution defined a new political system for Somaliland, a democratic, multi-party system. The referendum, which was " fairly openly, honestly, as well as largely in accordance with internationally recognized election standard, resulted in the approval of the new constitution by 97% of the votes. The Brussels- based International Crisis Group ICG) indicated the voting as transparent. Similarly, on 15 December 2002, Somali Lander voted on their local elections, and on 14 April 2003, they elected their first democratic president since independence in 1960. In fact if the west considering the out breaks of lasting democracy in the Horn of Africa, Somaliland is a society found of rule of law, Justice, Free and Fair elections and actively is ready to co-operate with the International Community the peace initiatives in the Horn of Africa.

 

Despite the un-rewarded democratic achievements, Somaliland has remained victim of different kinds of violence including the Challenge in the red sea in the last decade. Ethiopia had similar experience. This challenge is running between the Israel and its Arab State neighbors and deepened its root when, in 1967, the Suez Canal was closed during the Six-Day War. Equally significant is that when, in1984, Libya's Muammer Al-Gadhafi ordered the laying of floating ocean mines in the Red Sea. It could be argued that the Global Trading System damaged these two events significantly and measurably for that period.

 

Since Somaliland declared as a viable, sovereign entity, intense diplomacy from the Arab -League particularly Egypt, Libya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and probably Djibouti have prevented recognition of the resumption of sovereignty of Somaliland, fearing that the Arab -Muslim -State (Somaliland) which occupies a strategic position in the Gulf of Aden especially the Mouth of the red sea at the straits of Bab-elmandab could enter into deals with Israel so that Israel could base Military units and warships there to dominate the Mouth of the Red Sea with the support of the close ties they have to day with their Neighbor of Ethiopia.

 

In the case of Ethiopia, Egypt, Libya and their alliance attempts to deny Ethiopia access to the red sea fuelling of Ethio-Eritrean hostility at a time when Ethiopia has begun constructing a new infrastructure to move Ethiopian exports out of the Country via a road link to the Red See port of Berbera of Somaliland. The Arab countries, particularly Egypt, Saudi Arabia and probably Libya will not hesitate to capitalize the evil forces in the region to encourage hostilities against the Ethiopian people with whom we Somali Landers consider our savors. A clear picture of their misguided and illogical thinking can be seeing from their diplomatic measures when it comes to the Ethio-Eritrean relations. Eritrea it self, the challenge in the red see damaged measurably and significantly it's economic. Eritrean ports used by the Ethiopian trade goods are now virtually deserted and the Eritrean economy is in ruins.

 

Even though Muslims are the leading population in the Horn of Africa (125Million) however those Arab countries have no slightest sympathy and humanitarian feeling for the suffering people in the region. They are not respecting the development and stability in the region. To be sure Egypt's occupation over the follow of the Nile waters, which Egypt regards as its own. It is an historic fact that Egypt was the mastermind of the 1977 disastrous war between the former regime of Somalia and Ethiopia, which caused huge, loses of human and material resources. I think it is time to discover for the International Community the potentially dangerous condition which Egyptian diplomatic adventures are creating in the Horn of Africa.

 

Generally, Somaliland is by no means to ally itself with Israel. Just this depends on if Israel expressed us their sympathy of Somaliland's Statehood. Surprisingly, Somaliland is not the first Arab State that has established relation with Israel. Egypt has already done around 26- years ago, in Camp David Treaty and recently on 14/12/2004 singed a Trade Protocol with Israeli in Cairo. And now, Egypt is considering reopening its diplomatic office back again in Tel-Aviv which was closed after the beginning of the Palestinian intifada in 2002. Also it is important to know that Morocco, Mauritania, Jordan, Qatar are members of the Arab-League and in fact have some kind of relations with Israel to day. So why in Somaliland? It is our memory that at the independence year in 1960 thirty-five countries recognized Somaliland diplomatically and one of those countries was State of Israel. Why not now? What is the difference between now and then? The message is clear; we warmly urge Israelis diplomatic support same as Lord Balfour's declaration support

 

To my view, I support if a good relation and Co-operation which Would benefit both sides in their sphere of Co-operation starts. At same time, promote development and sharing technological expertise of both States. In spite of its strategic position, Somaliland sitting on abundant natural resources decorated by a very amenable climate is at the bottom of every ranking. Alarmed by this situation, does Somaliland is ready to seize the opportune moment to make the 21st century the century of Somaliland by inviting the State of Israel to process its natural resources?

 

* ALI MOHAMED NOUR, is from HARGIES/SOMALILAND . Email: toosane@lycos.com