Independence is “up to the people of Somalia to decide,” said Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister

[Che -Guevara]

Somaliland Minister Says to Push for Recognition After Sudan Referendum

 

Bloomberg

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

 

Somaliland plans to step up efforts for international recognition on expectations that a referendum on independence in Southern Sudan will aid its campaign for statehood, Foreign Minister Mohamed A Omar said.

 

The referendum will have a “positive knock-on effect,” Omar said by phone today from the capital, Hargeisa. “We will be using the South Sudan case to take a more aggressive policy to the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.”

 

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 when a coup sparked civil war. It has never been recognized abroad because the Organization of African Unity ruled in 1964 that post-colonial borders in Africa were inviolable. The break-up of Sudan, Africa’s largest country by area, would be a rare exception to that rule.

 

Somaliland enhanced its democratic credentials with elections leading to a peaceful transition of power to President Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo in June. The vote met international standards, according to observers Progressio, a London-based development agency.

 

Moreover, Somaliland was recognized as an independent state for five days in 1960 before uniting with Somalia, while South Sudan has never been a separate country, Omar said.

 

“Our case is not a secession, it’s a withdrawal from a union,” he said.

 

Cool Response

 

Neighboring Ethiopia said events in South Sudan wouldn’t lead it to recognize Somaliland. The situation is different to Sudan, as the north agreed to the south’s referendum, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said in an interview in the capital, Addis Ababa, on Jan. 15.

 

Independence is “up to the people of Somalia to decide,” Hailemariam said. “The decision cannot come from outside, it can only come from within.”

 

That is unlikely to happen in Somalia because there is no “representative legitimate government in Mogadishu,” Omar said. “This does not give us an opportunity to sit down in a similar situation to the Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” he said.

 

To contact the reporter on this story: William Davison in Addis Ababa via Johannesburg at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.

[Thankful]

It quite interesting how all the secessionists completely ignore threads like this. I guess when you provide indisputable evidence about Ethiopia (their supposed brotherly ally) true position on NW Somalia's independence goal they are forced to remian silent!

 

I think the Ethiopian Foreign Minister made it crystal clear that that NW Somalia's quest is not the same as Southern Sudan! More so, his statement makes it clear that the Ethiopian government does not accept Hargeysa's adminstrations case!

[Jacaylbaro]

“Our case is not a secession, it’s a withdrawal from a union,”

 

And this is what u ignoring mate ........

 

 

Well, what is new here now ?? ,,, that has been said for the last 20 years.

[The Zack]

Thankful has made some good points. Even though many of us knew this already, Ethiopia made it VERY CLEAR to Somaliland that it will not accept their secession from Somalia. Landers want to skip that part of the news, they will come back two weeks later and tell us "Somaliland and Ethiopia are sisterly states". :D

 

Ilaahow riyo ka dhig bey taagan yahiin LOL.

[Thankful]

Jacaylbaro;688580 wrote:

And this is what u ignoring mate ........

 

 

Well, what is new here now ?? ,,, that has been said for the last 20 years.

Ok, well I don't know what the difference is, but if the two terms are different in your world....South Sudan is voting for secession so I am not sure why you are following their case so strongly!

 

Anyways, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister has stated some powerful words!

[Jacaylbaro]

Is this the first time for you ?? ,,,,,,,,, then there must be a reason why u realized this ,,,

[Che -Guevara]

Jb everyone knows what Somaliland wants and this has been clear for 20 years now, and everyone is aware of your arguments for secession or 'withdrawal from union'. The article is not about that, it's about how your closest ally Ethiopia threw under the bus in no uncertain terms!

[Jacaylbaro]

They said that in 2010, in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 ,,,, and so on.

 

Tell me something new .................

[The Zack]

So you guys know that Ethiopia doesn't support your so called secession yet your admin keeps kissing their butt?

[Jacaylbaro]

They said that in 2010, in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 ,,,, and so on.

 

Tell me something new .................

[Thankful]

Come on now JB! The reason why these words are significant is because when Siilaanyo travelled to Addis a few months ago secessionists were talking about the treatment he received remember this?

 

 

 

 

 

Remember on this thread http://www.somaliaonline.com/community/showthread.php/28156-PRESIDENT-SILANYO-SCORES-BIG-IN-ADDIS-ABABA?highlight=siilaanyo+addis

 

you posted this:

 

 

Jacaylbaro;448721 wrote:

The Deputy Prime Minister welcomed him ...............

As well, we hear about how there are diplomatic relations and embassies, basically the point is that after Siilaanyo's visit you guys were singing a different tune about the changes that were happened between you and Ethiopia, but the Ethiopian FM has made his countries position clear today! Nothing has changed!

 

The FM is obviously doing this because he hears the reports that NW Somalia is paying attention to South Sudan. He wants to make it clear the two issues are different.

[Che -Guevara]

Che -Guevara;688543 wrote:

Somaliland Minister Says to Push for Recognition After Sudan Referendum

 

“We will be using the South Sudan case to take a more aggressive policy to the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.”

.

Jb...What's new is the opportunity presented by the referendum in Southern Sudan and how Somaliland can capitalize on this referendum success as the Foreign Minister suggested and hopes to do. The Ethiopian Foriegn Minister essentially kicked Somaliland in teeth by saying Somaliland is no South Sudan and independence lies with the Somali people aka Mogadishu in political terms.

[Qodax Qorax]

LOoooooool

 

These guys are hilarious. First they say Ethiopia created Somaliland and wants to divide Somalia up. Xabashi ayaa idin wadata iyo idin tageersan.

 

Maantana wexe sheekadu gaadhay xabashi ayaa idin ka soo hor jeeda.

[Saalax]

The link between Ethiopia & Somaliland is trade, & security. Nothing else. I don't know why some are surprised. Obvisiouly Ethiopia is worried if Somaliland is recognised they will no longer be needed.

 

 

 

A failed Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a win win situation for Ethiopia.

[nuune]

Saalax;688625 wrote:

A failed Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a win win situation for Ethiopia.

Using what you said there, the following can and will be true:

 

 

 

A successful Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a win-loss situation for Ethiopia

 

A failed Somalia state

 

A recognised Somaliland

 

 

= a win-loss situation for Ethiopia

 

A successful Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a loss-loss situation for Ethiopia

 

A failed Somalia state

 

A recognised Somaliland

 

 

= a loss-win situation for Ethiopia

 

A successful Somalia state

 

A recognised Somaliland

 

 

= a win-loss situation for Ethiopia

 

A failed Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a win-loss situation for Ethiopia

 

A successful Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a win-loss situation for Ethiopia

 

A successful Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a win-loss situation for Ethiopia

 

A successful Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a win-loss situation for Ethiopia

 

A successful Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a loss-loss situation for Ethiopia

 

A successful Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a win-loss situation for Ethiopia

 

A failed Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a loss-win situation for Ethiopia

 

A successful Somalia state

 

A recognised Somaliland

 

 

= a win-win situation for Ethiopia

 

A successful Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a loss-loss situation for Ethiopia

A failed Somalia state

 

A recognised Somaliland

 

 

= a win-loss situation for Ethiopia

A failed Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a loss-win situation for Ethiopia

A successful Somalia state

 

A recognised Somaliland

 

 

= a loss-loss situation for Ethiopia

A successful Somalia state

 

A unrecognised Somaliland

 

 

= a loss-win situation for Ethiopia