Given that Somalland is a beacon of democracy in Africa, your article appears to be unnecessary about the possibility of its confession, saying that this will lead to “anger” of Somalia (Exclusively: Somalland President says the recognition of the state “on the horizon” after Trump’s talks, May 30).
Former British Somalia It was independent in 1960 and chose to join the former Italian Somalil to form Somalia, while the former French Somalia chose the wisdom of sitting on it as Djibouti. Its reward, during the rule of the dictator Siad Barry, was death and destruction in the “hidden war”, a period of resettlement for many to Britain (especially Cardiff, where the Somalis arrived in the 1950s) of refugee camps, especially in Ethiopia.
It has now been 34 years since Somalilands has declined Barry’s army and reaffirmed his independence. Since then, we have seen many peaceful transformations from a president and one party to another after the elections.
In 2007, it led a parliamentary delegation in the United Kingdom, with the support of the Commonwealth Parliament Association, to Somalland, and we also visited the African Union in Addis Ababa to ask about the reason for not recognizing it after Somalia. The answer was that an internal report recommends confession is to collect dust because some of its members fear that recognition may encourage separatist provinces in other countries. But Somalland is not a separatist boycott – it is a nation that reaffirmed its independence and showed the ability to build its own democratic institutions, follow peace and security, and enhance economic growth.
In the same period that Jamil Aland was a successful democracy, Somalia (The remaining south) was a failed state. Why are those who are currently running Somalia are not required to focus on the tradition of peace, democracy, cohesion and economic success in Somalland, instead of encouraging them to seize lands?
It may be understood that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reluctant to recognize the interest before any country in the region does, but Britain must occupy the second position with recognition. Or have we forgotten the tremendous contribution made by British Somalia soldiers during World War II and Somalland sailors since the mid -nineteenth century, as well as the contribution made by Somalons at the present time in the United Kingdom?
Alon Michael
MP for Cardiff South and Penarth (1987-2012); The former president, a parliamentary group of all parties for Somalland and Somalia
