World's Recognition of Somaliland

The global position on Somaliland has entered into a unique period in history, being recognised as an independent Nation-State. After more than 30 years of gaining independence and remaining self-governed without recognition from the outside world, the global community has come to recognize, as many already do, that Somaliland has established itself as a Nation-State in nearly all respects. The recognition of Somaliland did not happen overnight; rather, it resulted from many years of stable and consistent governance. Over time, while many areas of the Horn of Africa and elsewhere suffered political collapse and instability, Somaliland remained quietly focused on building a stable political system through good governance, peaceful conflict resolution and building appropriate institutions necessary for good governance. Because of this sustained effort by the people of Somaliland, it became impossible for the international community to continue overlooking Somaliland. The shift in the argument for International Recognition of Somaliland is no longer a political question of 'why should Somaliland be recognised'; it is now a question of 'why has Somaliland not yet been recognised?' The logic behind this shift is clear. Somaliland has been able to provide a stable base for regional stabilisation; it has proven that it is capable of providing reliable security for its people as well as enhancing local governance. Consequently, it is now seen as vital in stabilising the region around it. Proven Relationship with the International Community for over 30 Years Over the past 30 years, Somaliland's development into a de facto state has been apparent. Since declaring independence in 1991, Somaliland has been able to demonstrate that it has fulfilled all of the criteria commonly accepted worldwide for being a legitimate sovereign nation. Somaliland has consistently provided evidence of: • An identifiable geographic territory; • A stable population; • An established political government and written body of laws; • The ability to establish diplomatic relations with other countries. While temporary regimes (or politically unstable ones) were created through force or violence, Somaliland built their government from the ground up through democratic elections held every two years. Political leaders are selected without violence, and institutions have matured over several decades. Increasingly, the international community has viewed Somaliland as a de facto state and as deserving of recognition as a legitimate sovereign nation. The world has consistently recognized the value of stability over a prolonged period of time, and Somaliland has consistently provided stability to its population for over 30 years. Thus, the official recognition of Somaliland was merely the formal recognition of the pre-existing status of the country. 2. Security and Stability in the Region Security and stability were important considerations. While usually associated with violence and problems in the world, Somaliland has historically been viewed as a beacon of hope. Among many stability factors, Somaliland continued to be seen as a safe place for: • Minimal internal conflict; • Good local security forces; • Successful community-based conflict resolution; • Collaboration on terrorism and maritime security; As a key strategic location along the Gulf of Aden (the world’s busiest marine shipping lanes), Somaliland is vital for not only local but also global security. Somaliland's active participation in combating piracy and extremism has built significant trust with many major international partners. For the larger global powers, recognition of Somaliland will enable their ability to strengthen and build a more trustworthy and dependable partner in a significant area of volatility. Stability should never be expected but rather proven through sound actions by responsible governments. The global community has confidence in providing recognition to Somaliland because they feel confident this recognition will support peace rather than disrupt it. 3. Economic and Geopolitical Factors That Fostered Recognition Economics and geopolitics also played a vital role in recognition of Somaliland. The establishment of Berbera Port positioned Somaliland as a vital area for commerce, and as an import and export hub particularly for land locked Ethiopia which is considered one of fastest growing economies on the African continent. The following points highlight the role of Strategic Trade Hubs on Global Trade: • Enhanced Logistics and Regional Trade Routes • Less Dependency on Crowded Port Numbers • New Opportunities for Investment/Logistics • Greater Indexed Economic Development in the Horn of Africa With increasing investment from foreign countries into Somaliland, maintaining its status of non-acknowledgement will become unpractical. If recognized, there would be a proper avenue for creating and demonstrating legal foundations for Trade, Finance, and Diplomacy. Furthermore, the International community's perspective of self-determination has changed over time. Somaliland's peaceful and stable path in pursuit of nationhood demonstrates an alternative to other forms of nationhood through violence (e.g., armed struggle). By recognizing Somaliland, it sends a message that State Building can occur through Stability, Peace, and Persistence. Conclusion: The world recognized the success of awarding Somaliland after the challenges of our historical plight were overcome through Actions and not just Words. Proof of Stability, Governance, Security and Economic Impacts were perfectly aligned at the right time. For Somaliland, the world recognizes it as a victory of demonstrating that Patience, Peace and Persistence can Remove Borders and Transform History.