Policy Recommendation
Somaliland’s biggest problems are inexperience and the international community’s refusal to acknowledge their existence as a sovereign state. Canada can and should take an active role in ameliorating both of these problems by following the recommendations outlined in the latter of the two policy options.
Canada’s ability to act is undeniable. It has a respected voice in the United Nations that could be used to bring Somaliland’s story to the world stage, it has the experience needed to be an advisor on electoral processes, and given the millions of dollars CIDA contributes to Somalian aid, it is clear that it could have the financial ability to set up a consulate.
What remains to be contested is whether Canada should change its foreign policy. A shift from passive donator to proactive supporter would not only benefit Somaliland but would benefit Canadian interests and the interests of counterterrorism efforts around the world.
The benefits to Canada are apparent. Canada’s military strength is limited, and yet Canada wishes to present itself as the world’s peacekeeper. This is evident in Canada’s push for the development of the Responsibility to Protect Doctrine, and in Canada’s 2005 International Policy Statement, which reads:
“With our focus in the area of governance, we have the capacity to strengthen the ability of poor-performing countries to use aid more effectively. We will, therefore, provide targeted bilateral support directly aimed at improving governance in a limited number of strategically significant poor-performing countries.”[29]
Canada’s involvement in Somaliland could be entirely civilian, thereby avoiding the debate over R2P’s potential neo-militarism. The suggested actions are also decisively not top-down aid, but rather an implementation of exactly what Somaliland has requested. On a domestic front, recognition of Somaliland’s existence would also recognize the history of Somalilanders living in Canada.
Finally, let us consider the benefits to Canadian-US relations and to counterterrorism as a whole. Somaliland is a stable, moderate Muslim democracy in a region characterized by faith-based conflict. By not recognizing Somaliland’s accomplishments in stabilization and democratization, and instead repeatedly trying to instate western-style transitional governments and reunification, the UN and its member states are providing fuel for the Islamic Fundamentalist argument that the West is anti-Muslim; that the West will recognize no authority or solutions except those they put in place themselves. To date, Somaliland has remained relatively unscathed by Islamic extremist acts of violence, but that trend is turning. As recently as October 28th of this year, two UN staff members in Somaliland were killed when a suicide bomber blew up a car outside a UN office.[30]
Recognizing Somaliland’s independence would be an effective, high-impact, low-cost form of foreign aid that more than fulfills Canada’s desire to be a peace-keeping nation. It satisfies the ideological tenets of the Responsibility to Protect Doctrine, provides exactly what the nation in need asked for, and avoids accusations of neo-colonialism or neo-militarism. And lastly, support for Somaliland is support for counterterrorism initiatives around the world. The question now is not should Canada, but rather, when will Canada acknowledge the incredible success story that is Somaliland.
[29] Canadian International Development Agency, “Canada’s International Policy Statement 2005,” Canadian International Development Agency, http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/ips.
[30] Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General, “Somalia / Two UN Staff Members Die,” United Nations, (October 31st, 2008),
<http://appablog.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/somalia-two-un-staff-members-die/>
