It is about time that Somaliland attempts a different method and take a play from Israel’s playbook

[Deeq A.]

Almost 28 years ago, Somaliland had declared its independence from Somalia following a brutal civil war and the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in Somalia. Since then, the country went through five elections and five presidents, and every one of them had promised to secure international recognition for the breakaway region.

Somalilanders have heard about countless meetings that were conducted with external actors including the government of Somalia. Unfortunately, no tangible outcome materialized from those meetings and no details or reports were released rendering the analysis of the failures near impossible.

 

It is about time that Somaliland attempts a different method and take a play from Israel’s playbook. In November 2012, a resolution was voted upon in the general assembly to recognize Palestine as a state; 193 nations voted in that resolution with only nine states voting against it. Among those nine nations were Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau,and Nauru.

 

These tiny pacific islands voted for the state of Israel in United Nations assembly defying the economical threats of the Arab countries despite none of these countries having a jewish population. How did a tiny nation like Israel convince these far away small islands to vote alongside them?

 

This achievement is due to Israel adapting Mashav which is a strategy centered on aiding smaller nations to build good well. It is about time that Somaliland adapts similar strategies to obtain the elusive international recognition. Even though Somaliland is not a rich country, it has a huge strategic geopolitical location as a trade gateway to Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi for a total potential market of 186 million people. Furthermore, Somaliland could offer assistance to these island nations which are facing climate change challenges. The total population of these islands is about 173,202 thus lending assistance would not be very difficult. Somaliland could even go as far as promising dual citizenship to the likes of Nauru with a population of 13,049 as a contingency for the rising seas.

 

Thinking outside the box is becoming an imperative. Therefore, a new think tank comprising Somaliland’s elite need to draw a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely) roadmap to overcome the current stagnation.

 

Maxamed A. X. Dado  CIS, MIS, MBA

H. Abdi Dado Investments

General Director

Cell: 615-602-3531