Somaliland inspired by Scotland and Catalonia independence campaigns
With its relative peace and natural resources, the breakaway state wants
recognition of its independence from Somalia
* Mark Anderson <
http://www.theguardian.com/profile/mark-anderson>
* Tuesday 21 October 2014 14.12 BST
*
<
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/oct/21/somaliland-inspir
ed-scotland-catalonia-independence#start-of-comments> Jump to comments (6)
Somaliland independence battle like Scotland or Catalonia, says president
The recent high-profile campaigns for
<
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/scottish-independence> Scottish and
<
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/15/guardian-view-cataloni
an-independence-heading-crash> Catalonian independence have buoyed hopes
that Somaliland could soon gain independence from Somalia, according to the
president of the self-declared country.
Somaliland is viewed by the international community as a territory within
Somalia – a nation that is struggling to emerge from more than two decades
of civil war. However, the former British protectorate boasts more than 20
years of relative peace and security as well as
<
http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2014/03/oil-somaliland> untapped oil
reserves and mineral deposits.
Its president, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo, said he was encouraged by
other independence movements and hoped that boosting investment in
Somaliland’s energy and agricultural sectors would spark an economic rebirth
that could help it towards independence.
“Other countries’ search for recognition, like Catalonia and Scotland, is
something we find [inspiring],” he said. “We are, in our own way, also
seeking our independence.”
Equally encouraging, said Silanyo, was the
<
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/13/mps-vote-to-recognise-palestin
ian-state> symbolic but non-binding vote this month in which British MPs
recognised Palestine as a state.
Silanyo, who met European firms at an investment summit hosted by the UK
Foreign Office last week, said commerce was key to his country’s quest for
sovereignty. “The recognition of Somaliland and the development of its
economy are things which are very much related,” he said. “Without economic
development, recognition is meaningless. Somaliland is entitled to
recognition – we have been waiting for a long time.”
But the UK, which has hosted
<
https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/somalia-conference-2013> a
series of talks aimed at repairing relations between Somaliland and Somalia,
has been reluctant to endorse Somaliland’s quest for recognition. A
spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “The UK’s position is that it is for
Somaliland and Somalia to resolve the issue of Somaliland’s status, and the
region should lead on recognising any new arrangements.”
Somaliland refused to attend the UK’s conference on Somalia last year,
dealing a blow to diplomatic relations.
<
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/07/london-somalia-confere
nce-somaliland> Writing in the Guardian, Silanyo said: “We cannot take part
in a conference that does not recognise Somaliland’s unique status or move
forward our long fight for international recognition.”
Somaliland’s energy sector has been touted as the area of its economy most
ripe for development. According to the energy minister, Hussein Abdi Dualeh,
there are four foreign companies exploring for oil and gas in Somaliland:
Turkey’s <
http://www.genelenergy.com/operations/somaliland.aspx> Genel
Energy, <
https://www.dno.no/dno-operations/somaliland/> DNO International
of Norway, UAE-based
<
http://www.rakgas.ae/index.php/about-us/rak-gas-international> RAK Gas, and
Yemeni firm Ansan Wikfs Hadramaut.
Dualeh said: “We’re across from one of the biggest shipping lanes in the
world, the gulf of Aden, we have a deep sea port in Berbera, and it just so
happens that our resources are running parallel along the coastline. Most of
the major potential basins for hydrocarbons are also not too far away from
the coast, so I think, logistically speaking, even a small discovery of
minerals or hydrocarbons would be a viable proposition for Somaliland.”
But analysts say oil production could raise tensions with Somaliland’s
neighbours,
<
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/10/somalia-conflict-idUSL2E8D9BN4201
20210> particularly in disputed areas that have aligned themselves with
Somalia.
“The federal government of Somalia has indicated its concerns over these
contracts that Somaliland has with these oil companies. A solution has to be
found through the dialogue between Somaliland and Somalia,” said Mohamed
Farah, executive director at <
http://www.apd-somaliland.org/> the Academy
of Peace and Development in Somaliland. “The government must initiate
dialogue in areas where there are some concerns from local people.”
But Somaliland has yet to secure a deal to
<
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/jul/27/berbera-port-past
oralism-livestock-somaliland> develop the port of Berbera, which would be
vital for exporting oil and gas. The port has long been touted as a
potentially lucrative transport corridor that could link neighbouring
Ethiopia, which is landlocked, to the sea.
Until new sectors of its economy are developed, Somaliland will continue to
rely heavily on livestock exports to Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries
where Somali livestock enjoys a premium status, Silanyo said. During the
annual hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia imports more meat from Somaliland than
anywhere else.
“We are very much dependent on the exports of livestock, but we would like
to develop our fisheries because we have a very long coastline and we have
mineral resources as well,” Silanyo said.
The UK’s Department for International Development
<
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/2
09263/Somalia.pdf> has said that Somaliland’s government is “better able to
provide for its citizens” than the government of Somalia. DfID will
contribute £25m to the <
http://www.somalilanddevelopmentfund.org/about>
Somaliland development fund, which is designed to support governance, boost
infrastructure and improve water purity.
The UK’s international development minister, Lynne Featherstone, said: “It
is only through investment, trade and jobs that Somaliland can reduce its
dependence on aid and remittances.
<
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/mar/01/s
omaliland-open-for-business> Business will be central to Somaliland’s growth
and development. It is already happening – Hargeisa [the capital] teems with
people starting new businesses and shops.”
Received on Tue Oct 21 2014 - 17:43:05 EDT