Since 1991, Somaliland has claimed sovereignty despite a lack of official recognition by the broader international community. With its own government institutions, currency, and political system, what does the dispute over Somaliland look like today, and what are the prospects for international recognition?
As part of the second event in the Pacific Councilโs 2019ย Summer Teleconference Seriesย covering territorial disputes, Pacific Council member Grant Harris, CEO of Harris Africa Partners, moderated a discussion between Michael Woldemariam of the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University and Sagal Abshir, an independent consultant whose practice focuses on public policy issues, governance, and institution building.
Key to the ongoing dispute around Somaliland today include ongoing dynamics around the international communityโs push to rebuild the political system in South Central Somalia, the current position of Ethiopia in the region, and geopolitical engagement by Gulf countries.
Both Abshir and Woldemariam provided historical context to Somalilandโs push for international recognition, with Abshir touching on the legacy of colonial rule by three European colonial powersโBritain, France, and Italyโuntil the formation of the Somali Republic in 1960. Despite being largely united by language and religion, the Somali people were spread across different regions, setting the stage for the former British protectorate to declare independence in 1991.
Somalilandโs claims for sovereigntyโwhich span identity, historical memory, and legal reasoningโhave remained for nearly three decades. Notable to this claim is Somalilandโs position as a relative โisland of stability and security,โ with its own political, security, and currency systems. But key to the ongoing dispute around Somaliland today, Woldemariam noted, include ongoing dynamics around the international communityโs push to rebuild the political system in South Central Somalia, the current position of Ethiopia in the region, and geopolitical engagement by Gulf countries.
http://What is the path forward for Somaliland? Listen to the full conversation below, including a Q&A with teleconference listeners:
https://www.pacificcouncil.org
