Aljazeera.com: Somaliland: 25 years as an unrecognised state
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From
: Berhane Habtemariam <
Berhane.Habtemariam_at_gmx.de_at_dehai.org
>
Date
: Mon, 6 Jun 2016 23:42:04 +0200
Somaliland: 25 years as an unrecognised state
Somalilanders refuse to let the lack of recognition for their state stop them from celebrating its 25th anniversary.
James Jeffrey
|
June 6, 2016
Hargeisa, Somaliland -
On May 18, 1991, Somaliland declared its independence from
Somalia
. Twenty-five years on, it still has not received legal recognition from the international community.
"Even if they don't recognise us, our independence is by virtue of our existence and by virtue of our liberty," said Yussef Ali, who had taken his four young sons to join the crowds that lined Independence Avenue to watch the May 18 independence parade under the harsh sun.
Around 500,000 Somalilanders were expected to fill the streets of the capital, Hargeisa, for the big day. But despite the festivities and the resolve of its people, Somaliland is straining after a quarter of a century of non-statehood. Its economy is fragile, making this apparent against the odds success story vulnerable.
"It's absolutely unfair," said Saad Ali Shire, the minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, after a conference the preceding day titled, The Republic of Somaliland: The Case for Recognition.
"We can't get international credit or foreign investment to build the country and create jobs as we are not recognised."
After the civil war at the end of the 1980s left much of Hargeisa in ruins and its population scattered - many in refugee camps in neighbouring
Ethiopia
- Somaliland rebuilt itself in "extraordinary isolation," explained Matthew Bryden, a political analyst who has been involved in Somaliland since its formation.
Somaliland has demonstrated that rarest of things: self-generated post-conflict reconstruction resulting in peace, democracy and good governance without international intervention.
Since 2003, Somaliland has held a series of democratic elections resulting in orderly transfers of power, exhibiting a level of political maturity that has eluded many recognised states.
But as another anniversary passes, it seems Somaliland cannot rely on its 25-year track record to gain what it so sorely desires.
"Somaliland pursued recognition for 21 years in the absence of a Somali government and was unsuccessful. Now, there's a recognised government in Mogadishu, [and] Somaliland's challenge is even greater," said Bryden.
"Whether they stay together or separate, their populations, economies, even security, are interdependent. They have no alternative to dialogue."
In the centre of Hargeisa, a Somali Air Force MiG jet fighter, which crashed during an aerial bombardment of the Somaliland capital during the civil war at the end of the 1980s, has become an incongruous memorial. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
The day before Somaliland's May 18 independence celebrations, Independence Avenue, Hargeisa's main thoroughfare, teemed with crowds and sellers of independence-related paraphernalia. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
Hargeisa's money changers place a small Somaliland flag atop their bundles of Somaliland shillings. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
'It helps Somaliland's message reach the outside world,' said British-Somalilander Ahmed Sulieman, who returned to Somaliland from the UK to help the Ministry of Information expand the country's television network and broadcasting capabilities. Somaliland was once a British protectorate and the UK is home to one of the world's largest Somaliland diasporas. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
A woman checks her smartphone during the parade. About 70 percent of Somaliland's population is under 30. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
A large brass band accompanied the parade along Independence Avenue. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
The military march inspired a particularly enthusiastic response from the crowd. Many Somalilanders consider the military and security forces as key to maintaining peace. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
'It took China 50 years to be recognised as a superpower. Maybe the same will apply to us,' said police colonel, Mohammed Omer, with a wry grin. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
Young Somalilanders carried large flags down Independence Avenue during the parade. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
Many Somalilanders were born after the country broke away from Somalia in 1991, and have only ever known an independent Somaliland. But a sense of uncertainty remains as long as the international community does not recognise it. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
Many Somalilanders believe the United Nations has not dealt with them fairly and think the issue of young people leaving the country, known as 'tahriib' in Somali, is linked to the lack of recognition, which limits economic opportunities for the young population. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
Somalilanders get into the swing of things during the parade. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
People take whatever vantage point they can find to watch the parade. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
A woman wears a sticker that makes her views on Somaliland's statehood clear. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
The parade included an eclectic mixture of participants, from a trailer with a caged lion to karate-inspired gymnastics. [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]
Received on
Mon Jun 06 2016 - 17:42:04 EDT
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