Somaliland: An Oasis of Success

[Jacaylbaro]

Charles Anderson and Glen Johnson visit a region that, despite a lack of international recognition, is holding its own.

 

The guard spoke out of the place where his front tooth used to be. He sat in the passenger seat of an aged Toyota station wagon with a muddied rifle leaning against his knee. A former liberation soldier, he clapped his hands to the blaring sound of Somali rap music as we sped through the desert east of Hargeisa, the administrative hub of Somaliland: a place that no longer exists.

 

He turned around to face us and pointed out the window. ’Tank, tank,’ he said. In a place like this, the natural reaction would be to panic. But just off the road his referent became clear. A tank with a rusted, spray-painted shell, its tracks long since removed. It looked like a sad, lost elephant with its trunk dangling. ’Somalia tank,’ the guard said.

 

Official maps lump Somaliland in with the other regions comprising Somalia. Others use a dotted line to demarcate the patch where Somalia ends and Somaliland begins. Somaliland was part of the Ottoman Empire, later becoming a British protectorate. And then, in 1960, it merged with Somalia after Somalia gained its independence from Italy. But years of bitter war confirmed what Somalilanders always knew: ‘this’ place was not ‘that’ place.

 

 

FULL STORY: http://www.newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2011/09/21/somaliland-somalia-independence/

[Che -Guevara]

This mantra has failed to yield any tangible results, secessionists need PR firm to sell this project.

[Carafaat]

PR wont convince Al Shabaab and its followers.

[Che -Guevara]

Someone has wet dreams about AS. It's unhealthy to have such obsession with these men.

[burahadeer]

They won't free themselves of the shackles as long as some people get a stroke when they hear good news about SL.It only proves they can't go without SL.Certainly good advice will be,first be somebody,get peace,clean the mess & then talk about SL; but they don't listen!

Since 1990, billions were spent in mogadishu just to give some normality & not a dime spent on the otha side.....you see the difference.

They should be happy for SL but sadly the impression you get is one of hostility & that won't help their cause(united somalia).It may very soon be a distant memory!

[Che -Guevara]

^It's hard to forget when you are here everyday-like battered wife, you come back to the same people you claimed to have abused you.

[burahadeer]

sorry big man,you the owner of the site.Whateva helps your illusions

[Che -Guevara]

No little man but it's odd you would b!tch about Sland in site that caters to citizens of Soomaaliya or do you have a habit b!tching about Sland in foriegn sites.

[burahadeer]

you really mad! I touched where it hurts which is be somebody before you run your mouth! Truth hurts.

and I be here as`long as citizens of somalia keep talking about SL. You can block boy.

[Che -Guevara]

^looooooooooool...calm down kiddo..you are taking this way too seriously...good riddance cayayaankaa intee laga soo daaye.