CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1 Recommendations
This researcher would argue that the Somaliland government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs role in advocating for recognition are in need of urgent and comprehensive reform. In the main, these changes would include:
- Somaliland Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs to overall and reform its foreign policy and diplomatic service so that it is more attuned to the demands and requirements of the case for recognition
- There is an urgent necessity to establish a new Department of Recognition within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with its own mandate. This department would handle the day-to-day running of recognition issues, implement strategy and policies and employ specialist foreign analysis officers, executive foreign affairs officers, and domestic specialists.
- The Somaliland government and the Somaliland UK Mission must establish direct interactions and engagement with HMG, particularly the FCO, specifically the Foreign Commonwealth Office Africa Directorate, which advises the FCO on Somaliland recognition issues and policies.
- The UK government is sympathetic to the Somaliland case – All Party Parliament Group for Somaliland (APPG), and other members of parliament have expressed their concerns in relation to the obstacles that Somaliland has faced over the last 28 years. These have also been vocal in their praises of Somaliland’s achievements, and their good offices should be used to advance the case for recognition. as Doughty identified the persistence of Somaliland diaspora, “I think you know quite rightly that many Somalilanders have raised the issue of recognition with me when I visit and they ask how long we have to wait, election after election after election, it will come soon, it will come soon, I understand those frustrations well, and I have a huge empathy with it and it’s why I have done my best to pressure the UK government, by meeting ministers, by raising questions in parliament, by raising motions, by raising petitions and by getting more MP’s to join the Somaliland All Party Group. We brought out two new MP’s, for example, to Hargeisa, who previously had not been supporters of or aware of Somaliland, Mathew Offord of the Conservative party and Liz McInnes, Shadow Foreign Minister for Labour, and they were incredibly impressed with what they saw and have now become firm friends of Somaliland”.
- The government needs to institute diplomatic relations with Somalia, through exhorting the EU, (particularly the UK), the UN, and AU to put pressure on the Somalia government to recommence some form of dialogue.
- The Somaliland government needs to establish a forum or group of pro-Somaliland countries and to follow-up with other countries that previously had supported the Somaliland case, such as South Africa, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Guinea Conakry. It should also engage with those African countries, which opposed Somaliland recognition, such as Egypt, Eritrea, Djibouti, Morocco, Cameroon, Algeria, and others from the Middle East, and review and identify the obstacles and the concerns for those individual countries. Once these have been established, the Ministry should work to implement a new policy and strategy, simplifying Somaliland’s case, addressing the concerns of those countries, and highlighting the mutually beneficial outcomes of recognition for these countries
- It is vital that the Somaliland government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, work to more actively promote the Somaliland case to international actors, particularly the EU, UK, USA, AU and the Arab League or even Russia and Israel. According to Obasanjo, the former Nigeria president, affirming that, “part of the problem is that the chaos afflicting Somaliland is not fully understood, and I believe it is your responsibility to make the African community understand, all the countries in Africa should understand your case. Beyond that, the international community should understand your case because you have, if not an outstanding case, then most certainly an excellent one. I also believe that you have to package and market your case, which you have done”.
- Somaliland Missions can also advance their case by engaging politicians, academics, celebrity pressure groups, and even religious groups to highlight relevant issues.
- The Ministry needs to establish affiliations among local and international political lobbies to promote Somaliland’s case within the international political community.
- The Ministry must to follow the potential leads that this study acclaimed.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs to institute a steering group comprised of academics, civil society members and the general public to discuss, deliberate and influence the Somaliland case for recognition both internally and externally.
- It should look to influence Somali presidential and parliamentary elections, and provide financial assistance for oppositions and pro-Somaliland candidates. This would entail lobbying or the use of more traditional routes.
- Allocating a reasonable budget for the Ministry and the new department to enable it to effectively manage its mandate.
- Somaliland – non-existence of any governmental endorsement with regard to recognition by the international community has proven to be a major hurdle to its receiving international recognition, henceforth, Somaliland must institute and pursue at least one European, African, Middle Eastern or American continent country to endorse and lobby for Somaliland’s case for recognition.
- The Somaliland government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Somaliland’s Foreign Missions around the world must implement a rigorous strategy to mobilize, encourage and support the Somaliland diaspora, particularly UK Somalilanders. A large number of Somalilanders currently live, work, and study in the UK, including thousands in our constituencies alone. This diaspora community has played a crucial role in pushing for the impending passage of new bills in Somaliland that will bring the laws governing sexual offenses and FGM into line with international human rights norms, setting Somaliland apart from its East African neighbors, (Zac; et al: 2018). This a point that Doughty emphasized further, “I think the diaspora community plays a crucial role not only in supporting Somaliland directly you know but equally through its financial remittances, which helped to rebuild the country after the war. I think it’s a remarkable story that more people should know, but the diaspora here are very active, they are very active in the community and many of them are already doing what they need to be doing, which is raising the concerns of Somaliland with their MP’s and with other representatives and making themselves known. They are known to be a quite strong community, I certainly hear Somalilanders every week, and that is a very positive thing because it makes a strong case for me to present in parliament. This is what my local residents want. I think Somalilanders in some other cities have a powerful voice to begin with, e.g. Bristol and Liverpool. I think, in terms of the support they can provide in Somaliland, obviously, it is the financial aspect, but it is also a kind of breaking down of some of the myths about not being able to travel or not being able to safely engage. That is nonsense you know, because if you travel to Somaliland you see that, and I think the more creative the connections we make, the better. Here there is a delegation currently visiting from Cardiff and reaching out to universities, and we are trying to establish links between Cardiff Valley College and Somaliland, as well as between the South Wales Police and Somaliland – the more we build strong links, the better our relationship”. Eventually, significant numbers of voters in the UK, who can exert influence on their local MPs, and MEP’s will raise the Somaliland case during or after elections, provided that the well-organized Somaliland diaspora in the UK have ensured the commitment of some important political individuals, and have a significant and evident effect on Her Majesty’s Government policies on Somalia. The Somaliland government therefore needs to rally the Somaliland diaspora in order to put pressure on the UK government, and this is the only viable and alternative option since the Somalia government is clearly not willing to open any dialogue with the Somaliland government, and is implementing an aggressive foreign policy strategy.
Finally, Somaliland entails to specify a definitive model (concept) or process that they envisage being implemented once dialogue with Somalia has restarted; options include:
- Unitary System: (This has already failed). The previous unitary system saw a union composed of British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland in 1960.
- A Confederation State: very much equivalent to a unitary system.
- A Federal State: (the current model in Somalia), an arrangement Somaliland is not interested in.
- An Associate State: (the Commonwealth model) Based on its previous incarnation involving Italian Somaliland, this model presents a number of difficulties
- Referendum vote: (the Scotland, South Sudan models), If Somalia agreed to support this process, Somaliland would need to table a motion in the Somalia parliament indicating its acceptance of the outcome of a referendum, and Somaliland’s willingness to allow Somalia to endorse a NO campaign without interference from the Somalia Central Government.
6.2 Conclusion
This research has shown that a significant number of obstacles remain in the quest for Somaliland recognition; it stressed the burden and the isolation that non-recognition has meant for the Somaliland people, who are suffering the consequences of over 28 years of isolation. Thirdly, whilst the concerns relating Somaliland’s recognition have been accepted, Somalia is still reluctant to acknowledge Somaliland’s aspirations and to open any form of discussion with them to resolve the problem.
A fuller appreciation of existent realities in respect of the two countries is required. One needs to consider that Somaliland is currently not facing any military threat and this is unlikely to change in the decades ahead. Somalia is currently facing instability both politically and economically and is facing a terrorist threat internally. Somaliland is not engaged in a civil war, and it is not currently having to deal with genocide, or facing ethnic cleansing. Somaliland does not suffer from religious oppression, nor is it in immediate danger from the Somalia government waging a war to recapture Somaliland; nonetheless, these factors are serving to weigh against its case for recognition
This research has shown that Somaliland’s case can certainly be argued to be unique, it has concrete legitimate grounds to become a de jure country, and the case does not violate the African Charter with respect to the maintenance of colonial borders. It also fulfills the tenets of the Montevideo Convention (1993), required for statehood,
The research noted that other international stakeholders such as the UN, the AU, the EU, and the Arab League are reluctant to take the lead in recognizing Somaliland. Additionally, the US and the UK have adopted the position that Somalia issues are an AU matter, whereas the AU has stated that Somalia and Somaliland should resolve these issues themselves. The reluctance of the Somalia government, however, to engage in talks is impeding progress and no discuss of any option is currently taking place.
The study also highlighted the other myriad problems that flow from an absence of recognition: the inability to receive any development assistance or investment from other nations, or bilateral support from other international agencies, including the IMF, the World Bank, and the Africa Development Bank. These difficulties also extend to financial aid, insurance, and infrastructural investment. Other issues include poor healthcare, a lack of education, high birth-rate mortality, shorter life expectancy, an inability to travel abroad for business, pleasure or healthcare due to an absence of travel documents and the lack of access to a basic banking system. As a result, Somaliland has become dangerously dependent economically on remittances from its diaspora and foreign aid, which are unpredictable and unsustainable over the longer term and this limits Somaliland’s economic opportunities to improve and grow as a country.
The research also recognized the capacity of the Somaliland government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to break Somaliland’s seclusion through its diplomatic expertise, experience, lobbies, or in partnership with a larger country advocate. The benefits attaching to celebrity support, e.g. George Clooney and Sudan should not be overlooked.
The study has brought into focus the very real complexities that underlie of the issue of recognition, in particular, those related to the geo-political interests of neighboring countries and the broader concerns of those from the international community.
To conclude, the above evidence illustrated clearly the fact that Somaliland has a historic, political, legal and humanitarian case and deserves to be recognized. The recognition of Somaliland as a state is in the best interests of its neighbors and the international community and best guarantor of peace, stability, democracy and prosperity in a strategic, but unsettled region. The international community ought to acknowledge and reward recognition of Somalia, but in contrast continues to maintain its current position of unwillingness to engage in dialogue and resolve the stalemate amicably.
6.3 Potential International Leads:
6.3.1 Russia:
Yury Kourchakov, errand geostrategic interest of the Horn Africa to build a military base, particularly Somaliland in return for recognition. Talks are reportedly underway between Moscow and leaders in Somaliland for a 1,500-man base to support its warships and hunter-killer submarines to operate in the volatile region and busy shipping lanes carrying most of Europe’s, (Knox. 2018). Now Russia may be making a play for Somaliland: While the Somaliland government is playing coy, local media reported this past spring that Russia was seeking to build a small naval base and air station in the Somaliland port city of Zeila in exchange for recognition. For Somaliland, that would be a good deal, but for the United States, it would be a self-inflicted strategic wound, coinciding as it does with Russian efforts to flip Egypt, which resents what it perceives to be congressional and State Department hostility toward it (Rubin. 2018).
6.3.2 Uganda:
Uganda’s parliamentarians, delegation who visited in Hargeisa 2019, Violet Akurut Adome, Arinda Gordon Kakuuma, Komakech Lyandro, Sebaggala Abdulatif and Mutekanga Jacqueline, Headed by the Uganda Parliamentary Committee Chairman on Foreign Affairs committee Hood Katuramu, stated that:
“It is time Uganda and the Africa Union recognized Somaliland as an independent state”.
6.3.3 Kenya:
Kenya Opens the Door to Hargeisa, A Kenyan recognition of Somaliland might come within the near future according to the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs who spoke on the topic during the recent celebration of Somaliland’s 20th Anniversary. (unpo.org. 2019), what’s more, Raila Odenga former Kenya president, stated during his speech in Chatham House:
“I am myself a strong supporter and of the recognition of Somaliland, I have said so without fear of contradiction, I have said this that, I have been to Somaliland, I was one of the first leaders to go to Somaliland when my late friend Mohamed Egal still alive and I know what they done at that time, and I know the history of that union, between Somaliland and the South, it’s not a helpful, now you know the South’s health will take many years for them to start themselves out together, I thing very strong case for a recognition of Somaliland as an independent state” (Nation: 2016).
6.3.4 Egypt:
Al Sayyed Hamdi Sanad Loza, the Egyptian Deputy Minister of that country’s Foreign Ministry arrive in Hargeisa of Somaliland at the head of a delegation, Monday, for a visit that will take several days. Egypt is keen on following up the latest developments in East Africa and the Horn of Africa in light of its presidency of the African Union in addition to boosting cooperation at the bilateral level at the different domains” (MENAFN: 2019).
6.3.5 Guinea Conakry.
President Bihi was on a state visit to the West African nation of Guinea in 2019, at the invitation of President Alpha Conde. The visit is a sign of Somaliland’s rapid acceptance across the African continent and its growing economic and trading links with other nations. President Musa Bihi and President Conde pledged to find ways to work together on trade and on fostering closer cooperation. (Standardmedia, 2019), however this bilateral relationship needs to progress further in order to boost the case for the recognition of Somaliland.
6.3.6 Nigeria.
“A place that has made something out of virtually nothing, you have comparative peace, comparative stability, comparative progress and I will urge you to maintain and sustain it” is how former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo describes the progress made by Somaliland, during his visit to Hargeisa 2019.
6.3.7 United Arab Emirates.
In Somaliland, the local government has provided the UAE with a base in the deep-water port of Berbera as part of a $442 million deal to improve and upgrade it as well as make it a free trade zone. It is a win-win for both sides. For the Somaliland government in Hargeisa, it is a valuable investment in the nation’s economy. For the UAE, its navy now has exclusive access to a valuable strategic base. (Iddon. 2019), however, Somaliland needs to ensure that the UAE’s advocating of its case does not wane and that it continues to support the case for recognition across the wider spectrum of the Middle East, the UK and African countries, with a view to their eventually establishing consular offices in Somaliland.
6.3.8 United States of America
A final critique involves the concept of “African solutions for African problems.” Proponents contend that the United States should wait for African countries led by the AU to first recognize Somaliland. This approach is the topic of a thought-provoking International Crisis Group report, “Somaliland: Time for African Union Leadership,” published in May 2006, and was publicly endorsed by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer in a presentation on November 17, 2006 at the annual meeting of the African Studies Association. Although Frazer’s statement that the United States would recognize Somaliland if the AU acted first was welcomed by specialists on Somaliland, it is unclear when or if an AU recognition process will actually unfold. The encouragement of African action should not become the basis for inaction on the part of the United States. (Schreader. 2006).
Conversely, Senator Jack Reed, top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee: Recently assessed that “not much has changed about Somalia’s prospect for long-term stability” since he first visited 25 years ago, after a trip to Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, last March, (Mohamed. 2018). In effect, Somaliland does everything right. So why does the United States ignore it? In the era of budget cutbacks, the State Department refuses to even put an office in Hargeisa akin to what it has in Iraqi Kurdistan or Taiwan. The Pentagon, for its part, has no regular liaison with their Somalilander counterparts, even though both counterterrorism missions and the war in Yemen enhance Somaliland’s strategic importance (Rubin: 2019), however the non-existence of appropriate endorsements by the US, the UK, and the EU, are a considerable obstacle to formal recognition.
Hence why Somaliland Government need to advance to pursue further support from Senator Jack Reed and James Christopher Swan, who is currently United Nations envoy to Somalia and advocate and enthusiast of Somaliland’s quest for recognition, as well as Gen. Thomas Wald Hauser, AFRICOM commander, who told the Senate Armed Services Committee that U.S. airstrikes alone would not defeat al-Shabaab, the Al Qaeda-affiliated militant group with deep roots in Somalia. Instead, he said, local forces need to “step up.” (Rubin. 2019), the alternative local forces could be a Somaliland army in partnership and coordination with the US Army. This could be a significant step to winning American support.
6.3.9 Taiwan
According to Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, “Taiwan and Somaliland share the same democratic values and we look forward to working together for the good of humankind” Hence, this is a great opportunity for Somaliland to further enhance a bilateral relationship between the two countries.
6.4 Friends of Somaliland in the UK
- UK All-Party Parliamentary Group in Somaliland (APPG)
MP Stephen Doughty, MP Matthew Offord, MP Liz Mcinnes, MP Clive Betts, Baroness Hodgson of Abinger, MP Kerry McCarthy, MP Thangam Debbonaire, Zac Goldsmith.
The aim and the purpose of APPG, is to promote understanding of and support for Somaliland’s achievements in building peace, democratic governance and a sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, its important role in combatting terrorism and piracy in the region and beyond, and the need for continued UK assistance for Somaliland’s development. (parliament. 2018). Additionally, Eight Parliamentarians mark today’s 58th anniversary since the former British protectorate of Somaliland attained independence from the United Kingdom. They call on the UK government to begin the process of bringing Somaliland into the international community, as distinct from neighboring Somalia (Zac et al; 2018).
- Clive Betts MP
- Stephen Doughty MP
- Zac Goldsmith MP
- Lord Luce
- Kerry McCarthy MP
- Liz McInnes MP
- Matthew Offord MP
- Stephen Timms MP
Rt. Hon. Zac Goldsmith: Current Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs & International Development and Member of UK All Party Parliamentary Group in Somaliland (APPG).
“Somaliland must be recognized. Despite brutality and betrayal, it is today a beacon of hope” (@ZacGoldsmith: 2018)
“Somaliland is in so many ways a model nation. I’m excited for the day it is formally recognized”. (@ZacGoldsmith: 2018)
Rt. Hon. Gavin Alexander Williamson CBE MP: Current Secretary of State for Education since 2019 under the Johnson Ministry. Former Secretary of State for Defence from November 2017 to 2019. Most senior UK politician who visited Somaliland on 2018. After the meeting, the president’s office released a statement stating that, the significance of the meeting, in which both agreed to enhance cooperation, security and counterterrorism, cooperation in bilateral affairs, and continuation of the strong historical relationship between the two countries.
Rt. Hon. Priti Patel, Current Home Secretary and Former Secretary for international development Prodded by MP Stephen Doughty during her tenure as a U.K. Secretary for international development Priti Patel has pledged to probe who is averting aid access in Somaliland, (somalilandsun.com; 2017).
Rt. Hon.Harriet Baldwin, UK former Minister of State for International Development and Minister of State for Africa visited Somaliland 2018, held talks with the President of Somaliland Muse Bihi, restating continuation of UK aid, and long-term support of economic progress sustainability, security and climate changes.
Carrie Symonds Current UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s wife: Supporter of Somaliland. During her visit in 2019 to Somaliland, Symonds met Somaliland President Muse Abdi, emphasizing the global problem of sea pollution and women’s issues.
Rt. Hon. Rory Stewart Former Secretary of State for International Development:
“First, I pay huge tribute to the work of the APPG on Somaliland. As all Members of the House will know, Somaliland is a remarkable success story. Somalia itself has been through a very difficult situation, and Somaliland is a small miracle in a sea of difficulty. We worked very closely with Somaliland on the last presidential elections and we will be supporting the new parliamentary elections. On my last visit to Somaliland, I was lucky enough to meet the man who is now President. There is much more we can do and I would be delighted to sit down with the hon. Gentleman to discuss all those issues”. (Theyworkforyou: 2019)
Nigel Faragge. Brexit Party Leader.
“Somaliland has been a beacon of peace in the Horn of Africa for the past 24 years. It’s about time the UK and the international community recognized Somaliland”. (@Nigel_Farage. 2015)
Diana Abbot MP. Shadow Home Secretary and Former Shadow Secretary of State for International Development.
“Last week I was in Somaliland in the Horn of Africa where a severe drought risks becoming a famine. We know how generous the British public can be, faced with harrowing pictures of starving babies. The humanitarian challenge is how do you get donors and the public to match that generosity when it is a question of intervening to stop a drought becoming a famine?” (Abbot; 2016)
Other UK Members of Parliament and UK political spectrum that campaigner Somaliland recognitions include:
- Lord Luce
- Hon. Matthew Offord MP
- Hon. Stephen Timms MP
- Hon. Alun Michael MP
- James Carver Former MEP
