The British Government’s Policy on Somalia is Overdue for Recalibration

[Deeq A.]

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of Britain: The Labour Party government of the United Kingdom has inherited the Conservatives’ biased policy on Somalia.

Garowe  (Commentary) —  The Labour Party government of the United Kingdom has inherited the Conservatives’ policy on Somalia. In 2012, David Cameron, the former British Prime Minister,  introduced  a re-engagement strategy focused on the state-building initiatives in Somalia. This was the year Somalia ended its transitional period and formed a government whose MPs and President were selected in Mogadishu.

While Britain, like EU, deserves credit for supporting  federal institutions in the Federal Republic of Somalia at central and federal member states,  the Conservatives’ government promoted a secessionist policy favouring the Somaliland administration. This preferential treatment is evident in Hargeisa hosting Taiwan’s diplomatic mission, a move that violates Somalia’s One-China policy. Britain is accused of selectively applying  pre-independence protectorate policies in Northern Somalia, a stance successive Somali federal governments have failed to challenge.

As the penholder for Somalia at the United Nations Security Council, Britain has not raised any discernible objections to claims made by the Somaliland administration, including its assertion of sovereignty since 1991. This lack of objection was particularly notable during the 2023 shelling of Las Anood, where Somaliland forces justified their actions based on their secessionist claims.

The British government’s policy appears biased towards the Federal Government of Somalia. Britain has not distanced itself from a statement made by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud during the birthday party  for King Charles III at the British Embassy in Mogadishu, where he urged the British government to “act decisively against spoilers.” Such actions suggest that Britain is losing its neutrality in Somali politics and risks being perceived as supporting the agenda of one Somali leader, who uses the term “spoilers” to label his rivals.  

For this reason, the new Labour government has an opportunity to review its policies on Somalia, which were devised by the Conservatives, whose nostalgia for the British Empire was an animating theme in their dealings with Africa

By Adan M. Dawad

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