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The Guardian
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Britain must stand ready to recognise Somaliland
Given that Somaliland is such a beacon of democracy in Africa, your article seems to be unduly negative about the prospect of its recognition, saying that this will 'infuriate' Somalia (Exclusive: Somaliland president says recognition of state 'on the horizon' following Trump talks, 30 May). The former British Somaliland was given its independence in 1960 and chose to join with the former Italian Somaliland to form Somalia, while the former French Somaliland wisely chose to sit it out as Djibouti. Its reward, during the rule of the dictator Siad Barre, was death and destruction in the 'hidden war', a period when many were resettled to Britain (particularly Cardiff, where the first Somalis had arrived in the 1850s) from refugee camps, mainly in Ethiopia. It is now 34 years since Somalilanders pushed back Barre's army and reasserted its independence. Since then, we have seen several peaceful transitions from one president and party to another following elections. In 2007, I led a UK parliamentary delegation, supported by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, to Somaliland and we also visited the African Union in Addis Ababa to ask why it had not yet recognised Somaliland. The answer was that an internal report recommending recognition was gathering dust because some of its members feared that recognition might encourage breakaway provinces in other countries. But Somaliland is not a breakaway province – it's a nation that reasserted its independence and has shown a capacity for building its own democratic institutions, pursuing peace and security, and fostering economic growth. In the same period that Somaliland has been a successful democracy, Somalia (the residual south) has been a failed state. Why should those who currently run Somalia not be told to focus on imitating the peace, democracy, cohesion and economic success of Somaliland, instead of being encouraged in a land grab? Understandably perhaps, Foreign Office officials are reluctant to recognise Somaliland before any nation in the region does so, but Britain should stand ready to come second with recognition. Or have we forgotten the enormous contribution made by soldiers from British Somaliland during the second world war and that of Somaliland's seamen since the middle of the 19th century, as well as the contribution that Somalilanders make nowadays in the UK?Alun MichaelMP for Cardiff South and Penarth (1987–2012); former chair, all-party parliamentary group for Somaliland and Somalia
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First Post
30-04-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Somalia enforces One China policy, bans Taiwan passport holders: It has a Somaliland connection
The ban, which took effect on Wednesday, was announced in a notice issued by Somalia's civil aviation authority last week, according to a report, citing Taiwan's foreign ministry read more Taiwan has strongly condemned Somalia for imposing a ban on travellers holding Taiwanese passports, preventing them from entering or transiting through the East African nation. According to a BBC report, citing Taiwan's foreign ministry, the ban, which took effect on Wednesday, was announced in a notice issued by Somalia's civil aviation authority last week. Somali authorities have yet to publicly comment on the decision, added the report. The move comes amid deepening unofficial ties between Taiwan and Somaliland — a self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991 but lacks international recognition. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2020, Taiwan and Somaliland established reciprocal representative offices, a step that drew condemnation from both China and Somalia. Somalia's civil aviation authority issued a notice to airlines saying that Taiwanese passports 'will no longer be valid for entry into or transit through the Federal Republic of Somalia' from 30 April, BBC quoted Taiwan's foreign ministry as saying in a statement late on Tuesday. 'The ministry of foreign affairs has strongly protested Somalia's action made under the instigation of China to restrict the travel freedom and safety of Taiwanese nationals and has demanded that the Somali government immediately revoke the notice,' the ministry added. Taiwan's foreign ministry has advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Somalia or Somaliland for their own safety, pending a reversal of Somalia's recent ban on Taiwanese passport holders, reported BBC, citing Taiwanese media. Neither Somalia nor Somaliland has issued an official response to the travel ban. China, however, welcomed the move. 'We highly appreciate this legitimate measure, which reflects Somalia's firm adherence to the one-China principle," AFP quoted Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun as saying to reporters on Wednesday. Taiwan operates under its own constitution, holds regular multiparty elections, and governs itself independently. However, China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has vowed to reclaim it by force if necessary. Under pressure from Beijing's diplomatic campaign, Taiwan — officially known as the Republic of China — is formally recognised by only a small number of countries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the Siad Barre regime, is also not internationally recognised. Like Taiwan, it holds regular elections and operates as a de facto independent state. In contrast, much of Somalia remains under the control of the al-Shabab militant group, an al-Qaeda affiliate. The Somali government regards Somaliland as part of its sovereign territory and has condemned a recent agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia over leasing access to a port. With inputs from agencies
Russia Today
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Breakaway region in Africa rejects key port offer to US
Somaliland has rejected an attempt by Somalia to grant the US exclusive control of the ports and airbases in the breakaway territory's main coastal city of Berbera, calling the move a 'foolish interference' in its internal affairs. Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, following the overthrow of Somali military ruler Siad Barre and a decade-long civil war. While not internationally recognized as a country, the territory on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden has since established its own government, security structures, and currency. However, Somalia continues to regard the province as its territory. Last Friday, Reuters reported that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had written to his US counterpart, Donald Trump, offering to give Washington authority over bases in Balidogle and Berbera, as well as the Berbera and Bosaso ports. 'These strategically positioned assets provide an opportunity to bolster American engagement in the region, ensuring uninterrupted military and logistical access while preventing external competitors from establishing a presence in this critical corridor,' the letter, dated March 16 said, according to the outlet. READ MORE: Somaliland could host US military base – official On Sunday, Somaliland's president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as Cirro, said the 'assets in question are under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Somaliland, which is an independent sovereign state.' 'Our strategic assets in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are integral to our national security and economic stability, and any suggestion to the contrary is a clear political desperate attempt devoid of factual basis,' Cirro's spokesperson said in a statement. The self-proclaimed republic had hoped that Trump would support the region's push for statehood. Late last year, Bashir Goth, Hargeisa's representative in Washington, told TASS that Somaliland is willing to host a US military base 'if it serves the common interests of our two countries.' READ MORE: 'Uncharted waters': Is the Horn of Africa falling into a conflict trap? The seaport in Berbera has been the source of a year-long standoff between Ethiopia and Somalia, which both parties only recently agreed to resolve. In January of last year, the de facto independent state struck a major deal with Ethiopia to lease 20km (12 miles) of coastline to the landlocked state for commercial purposes and to build a marine base—reportedly in exchange for Somaliland being recognized as a country. The agreement sparked tensions with Somalia, which accused Ethiopia of aggression and undermining Somali territorial integrity through the 'illegal' Red Sea access pact. Following talks mediated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in December, Addis Ababa and Mogadishu have made efforts to mend their strained relations and are negotiating an agreement that would safeguard Somalia's territorial integrity while also granting Ethiopia access to the sea.
