The podcast “Unrecognized Independence: The Somaliland Case” discusses Somaliland’s argument for international recognition as an independent nation, despite not currently being recognized by most countries.
Guled Ahmed argues that Somaliland was briefly independent in 1960 after being a British protectorate, before joining Somalia (which was formerly under Italian UN Trusteeship). He asserts that the subsequent union with Somalia lacked proper legal ratification.
A referendum in 1961, intended to solidify the union, is presented as being manipulated by Somalia. Ahmed also points to a military revolt in Somaliland that same year.
Following a civil war and alleged genocide against the Isaaq tribe by Somalia’s Siyad Barre regime, Somaliland declared independence in 1991.
Since then, Somaliland has established a functioning state with democratic institutions, including multiple presidential elections monitored by international groups.
Ahmed claims that the reconciliation process between Somaliland and Somalia, facilitated by international actors like the U.S. and UK, has been used by Somalia to delay Somaliland’s recognition. He suggests that the U.S. recognized Somalia to the detriment of Somaliland.
In essence, the podcast argues that Somaliland has a historical and legal basis for independence and has demonstrated its capacity for self-governance, but its aspirations are being hindered by Somalia and the international community.
The complete piece is as follows:
Unrecognized Independence: The Somaliland Case
By Guled Ahmed
In the first edition of our Horn of Africa podcast series, we start with Somaliland. Somali-American scholar at the Middle East Institute, Guled Ahmed, and I discuss Somaliland’s case for independence.
Gus Anderson: What is the case for Somaliland’s independence?
Somaliland Independence: 1960
Guled Ahmed: Somaliland’s independence started in 1960. Today; it is almost 65 years. There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding from a historical and legal perspective. This brings challenges for the Horn of Africa and the wider international community.
Somaliland was a protectorate before independence in 1960. Somalia, however, was under Italian UN Trusteeship from 1950 to 1960.
Therefore, Somaliland had its own parliament and president before then.
A UN Italian trusteeship had its own parliament and president also in Somalia.
Somaliland gained its independence on the 26th June 1960; Somaliland received official recognition by 35 countries including all UNSC P5 members: China, the U.S., and many other countries. Somaliland had independence for up to 5 days in July 1960. In July 1960, both Somaliland and Somalia were independent countries.
Yet people sold this idea of reunification without any legal aspect for reunification. Somalia went to the UN to say that we are one country now yet the UN denied this because of no legal ratification. Many legal scholars have written about this.
Events of 1961
After one year in 1961, Somalia held a referendum to remedy this issue. Both countries did a joint referendum where 54% of Somalilanders advocated for independence without reunification. However, Somalia mixed the data and forged the data to advocate for reunification.
In 1961, there was also a revolt by Somaliland military forces who were detained. The judge who presided over the case even referred to the British colonial forces’ laws because the Somali constitution was and remains incomplete.
Legally, this demonstrates the lack of reunification at that time despite Mogadishu’s ‘claims’.
British Departure, Somaliland Reclaims Independence: 1991
Guled Ahmed: Fast forward to 1991, when the British were kicked out and Siyad Barre committed a genocide against the ancient Isaaq tribe in Somaliland. This is documented by the UN.
From 1991 to now, over thirty years, Somaliland has developed a process of state building, development, and democracy. The results show six presidential elections, which is very rare in the Horn of Africa.
Such elections have been ratified by monitoring groups such as Freedom House and the EU-27. It is the first country that has biometric data for elections.
Reconciliation: U.S. Recognition & Mogadishu’s Strategy
Unfortunately, since 2012, the UK and the U.S. have organized a conference between Somaliland and Somalia. Somaliland was ‘tricked’, right, as if they didn’t go to the conference, I believe Obama and Clinton would not have recognized Somalia.
President Obama visited and recognized Somalia in 2013.
For the last 14 years, the reconciliation process between Somaliland and Somalia has been a tool used by Mogadishu to hold Somaliland back.
Listen to the full discussion:
Guled Ahmed is a Non-Resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. With extensive knowledge and experience in geopolitics and geo-economic matters related to the Horn of Africa, Red Sea, and Sub-Saharan countries, he has been an analyst and researcher with MEI’s Egypt and Horn of Africa Program since 2020. 
