A call to MP’s…

 

On the 23^rd February David Cameron will be hosting an international conference on Somalia.  Whilst his efforts are admirable, there is little point in disputing the fact that Somalia is a failed state and Britain – like the rest of the international community -has come late to the table and is left picking up the pieces, desperately trying to prevent further degeneration.

We may be on the back-foot with Somalia, but their neighbour, Somaliland provides the UK with a fantastic opportunity to take the lead in promoting and rewarding democracy.  Instead of allowing states to fail, criticising them when they do and wasting time and resources on trying to put things right, Britain has an opportunity to not only get ahead of the curve, but also to further cultivate a relationship with a stable, peaceful and democratic country with a burgeoning economy and a forward-thinking and moderate society.

In recognising Somaliland, Britain accomplishes the support of a peaceful, democratic country in an otherwise violent and unstable region; an Islamic ally with a moderate and forward-thinking society as well as opportunities to cut costs of foreign aid in the region (if Somaliland can increase trade through its ports, this could benefit Ethiopia if they are allowed to use trade routes through Somaliland) as well as learn and utilise lessons on how to control and eliminate terrorism and piracy – all things which Somaliland have demonstrated themselves with great success.

Recognising Somaliland brings a whole host of benefits to UK, Somaliland and the horn of Africa region, with very little cost to the UK.  Somaliland is not looking for aid – it is looking for the opportunity to engage with the international community to further grow its burgeoning economy and improve prospects for its people.  In return for recognising, encouraging and engaging with this democratic, forward-thinking country, Britain establishes its credentials as a strong, independent nation, ready and willing to engage with a country which shows us that peace, democracy and prosperity are possible in the horn of Africa.  It gives us a chance to be the pioneers in leading the rest of the international community, enlightening them as to the opportunities for commerce (Somaliland has a number of natural resources, including oil and minerals), development and the stamping out of terrorism and piracy.

Until now, Britain, along with the rest of the international community, has been focusing on problems, not solutions.  Let Britain lead the way in showing the international community how to be more proactive in engaging with emerging markets and finding innovative and proven ways to deal with terrorism and piracy and help establish stability in the wider region, including Somalia.

I call on you to do your part to make this happen.  To ensure that Britain upholds its reputation and to let Britain spearhead the necessity to focus on solutions instead of just problems; to lead the way in promoting peace and democracy in the Horn of Africa and to remind the international community that Britain not only recognises what needs to be done to promote solutions – in this case recognising Somaliland – but is willing to take the initiative to implement the solution and help Somalia in the process.

Aims of the Conference

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/global-issues/london-conference-somalia/aims-of-the-conference#.TycMmDGRe7w.twitter

 

Despite the efforts of the African Union, the United Nations and the international community, international policy towards Somalia is not succeeding. After 20 years of sliding backwards, Somalia needs a step-change in effort – both from the international community, but also Somalia’s political leaders.

On 23 February senior representatives from over 40 governments and multi-lateral organisations will come together in London with the aim of delivering a new international approach to Somalia. They will discuss how the international community can step-up its efforts to tackle both the root causes and effects of the problems in the country.
We are now holding intensive discussions with our international and Somali partners and key stakeholders (including civil society).

There are complex issues that will not be solved overnight. We will need to build on and support the work of the UN, AU, NGOs and the vital role of civil society in Somali and we will require sustained political commitment and concrete action, including from Somalia’s political leaders. Even with sustained commitment progress will be slow, but we hope that this conference will serve at a catalyst and that in time it will be seen as a turning point.

Britain Urges Somaliland to Back Somalia Conference In London

Original Article is here: http://somalilandpress.com/britain-urges-somaliland-to-back-somalia-conference-in-london-26123

HARGEISA — UK Deputy Ambassador to Ethiopia Chris Allan visited the Somaliland capital on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming London Conference on Somalia. The British ambassador held a press conference in Mansoor hotel in which he briefly presented the agenda of the conference and Somaliland’s role.

“I would like to stress that I am pleased with my visit to Somaliland. Today I met with senior government officials and we deliberated on matters relating to the international conference on the issue of Somalia scheduled to be held in London. I presented them with the agenda of the meeting,” he said.

Mr. Allan also stressed talks will focus on core regional problems such as maritime piracy and terrorism that need regional cooperation.

“The scheduled meeting will address the issues of development and Britain’s humanitarian aid for Somaliland and Somalia as well as socio-economic and political development,” he stated. Mr. Allan added that Britain was Somaliland’s largest supporter and its biggest donor and reaffirmed the strong and long-standing friendship and historical ties between the two. With more than 40 senior government officials and multilateral organizations expected to attend, the British Ambassador said the meeting presented a golden opportunity and venue for Somaliland to present its case to the international community.

He further added, he was notifying the Somaliland authority and its people about the upcoming forum on behave of the British Prime Minister David Cameron and Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague. He said both officials were keen on President Ahmed Silanyo to lead the Somaliland delegation to London. “The Prime Minister will soon send an official letter of invitation to President Silanyo while the Foreign Secretary is expected to have a telephone conversation with President Silanyo to discuss the matter further,” he told local media.

Insisting the conference could strengthen Somaliland’s quest for international recognition Mr. Allan said: “I believe the best way Somaliland could further its goal is for President Silanyo to attend the meeting and make a case for his nation.”
Finally Mr. Allan revealed that the meeting will bring together over senior 40 government representatives and multilateral organizations including the president of France Nicolas Sarkozy, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, major international donors and foreign ministers.

Somaliland is a former British protectorate that gained its independence in June 1960 but voluntarily unified with its southern neighbor few days later to form what was known as the Somali Republic. After years of armed struggle with Somalia that left more than 50, 000 killed, it reinstated its independence in 1991 but has since failed to gain international recognition. Somaliland has in the past expressed skepticism and in most parts rejected participating in any conference on “Somalia”. However, the country is expected to endorse this British-sponsored meeting since Hargeisa trusts London and the British government is aware of Somaliland’s case. The timetable of the conference is not yet clear but the British Prime Minister said he will host the meeting in London in next month.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal

Thursday, Jan 19, 2012

A well written article reiterating Britain’s obligation to recognise Somaliland

By Jamal Ali Hussein

6 November 2007

As the Commonwealth countries meeting is about to start in Uganda during November 2007, the United Kingdom citizens who are originally from Somaliland are currently worried about the situation of their original mother country. They are amazed by the lack of Britain’s role in leading the way to promote Somaliland to a successful re-recognition. Somaliland Community particularly want the British Government to remember the words of its Prime Minister Harold Macmillan during early 1960s when Somaliland was about to receive its independence from Britain. The Prime Minister at that time, Harold Macmillan, told the House of Parliament:

“I should like to say, however, that it is Her Majesty’s Government’s hope that whatever may be the constitutional future of the Protectorate, the friendship which has been built up between its people and those of the United Kingdom for so many years will continue and indeed flourish.” – [Official Report, 11 April 1960;Vol.621,c.104W.]

Somaliland Republic (former British Somaliland) received its independence from Britain on June 26 th, 1960, and it was immediately recognized by 34 UN Member States, including the five Permanent Members of the Security Council. This made Somaliland to be the first independent Somali country to become a member of the United Nations before uniting voluntarily with the Italian Somaliland (current Somalia) on July 1 st, 1960 to form what was known as the Somali Republic in pursuit of irredentist dream of “Greater Somalia” including parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti. Somaliland decided to re-instate its sovereign independence from Somalia after the fall of Siyad Barre regime in 1991. Somaliland is only seeking re-recognition within the borders received at the time of independence from Britain 1960. Somaliland, not officially re-recognized by any state, has been functioning as a constitutional democracy with a president directly elected by the people, added by a parliament and local government also directly elected by the people. Somaliland’s existing multi-party democracy system is rarity in Africa and the Muslim world.

British Somaliland was either a protectorate or colony for Britain nearly 80 years. Somaliland Scouts regiment even played an important role during Second World War. There is no doubt that Somaliland people feel let down by the British Government since Somaliland re-instated its sovereignty due to their historical relationship. But with Prime Minister Brown’s government, Somalilanders are hopeful that Britain will look into Somaliland’s re- recognition issue with fresh eyes. It is important to note that Somaliland is one of few African countries where the government does not receive a budgetary support from the international community; it is one of only few African countries where the President is directly elected by the people. Yet, no government came forward to recognize it. It has been reported that several countries had indicated that they do not want to be the First, but the 2 nd or the 3 rd etc to re-recognize Somaliland. Mr. Eid Ali Ahmed, member of Somaliland Societies in European and Chartered Fellow of UK Institute of Personnel and Development said “There is a long history between the people of Somaliland and the United Kingdom people. The people of Somaliland strongly believe that they need to have a powerful sponsor like East Timor, and Kosovo had in order to persuade the International Community start listening its voice, and that is where United Kingdom (Commonwealth leader) should have come in”. Mr. Eid Ali Ahmed added “ Somaliland is not the first nation that entered a voluntarily union and subsequently withdrawn from the union. Senegal and Gambia, Egypt and Syria, Senegal and Mali have all done likewise.”

It is important to note that a number of British members of Parliament visited Somaliland in many occasions, and encouraged the British Government to look into the Somaliland re-recognition issue. The most memorable debate on Somaliland issue in the house of British Parliament is the one organized by the Hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Tony Worthington) in 2004 after he and other honorable members just returned from a visit in Somaliland. There was no one who could make a better case for Somaliland re-recognition than those British MPs. The honorable Tony Worthington said during the debate “ Somaliland has rebuilt its country without international assistance. It has acted totally on democratic lines, and the demand for independence was supported in a referendum by more than 90 percent of the population. The level of stability is impressive. I was far more impressed with the country than those of several other African countries that I have visited – countries that we recognize and support. Somaliland is doing nearly everything right, but it is being ignored.” The British MP in addition said “It is worth noting that Somaliland people supported, and stood shoulder to shoulder with Britain during the Second World War.”

The private sector in Somaliland is thriving, and now boasts of several private airlines, four electricity companies and five telecommunications companies, which offer both mobile and landline telephone services. People of Somaliland would tell you that they did not have any of those businesses for 31 years of marriage with Southern Somalia. One of the most remarkable aspects of Somaliland achievements include the major contributions made by the Somaliland Diaspora community particularly the ones living in the United Kingdom, Europe, Middle East, and North America.

Somaliland residents in Britain have pleaded with the UN not to deny Somaliland the right guaranteed in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The people of Somaliland are questioning the world community’s action as it also contradicts Articles 15 (1) and (2) which states that “everyone has the right to nationality” and that “no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the rights to change his/her nationality respectively.” The action runs counter to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights -Article 1 which states that “all peoples have right of self-determination. By virtue of that right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development”. In the absence of codified rules, it seems that the conventional wisdom has been that states recognize or do not recognize other states on the basis of their selfish interests. In last January at a high-level meeting in Brussels, organized by Somaliland Societies in Europe and Somaliland Community in Belgium (SBC), Mrs. Gleyns Kinnock the Labor Member of European Parliament for Cardiff said, “Somalilanders’ pleas for international recognition for their country must be heard. The right to self-determination for all peoples is a fundamental principle enshrined in the UN Charter. Indeed, it is an anomaly that Somaliland is still denied recognition by the international community.”

In last December Kerry McCarthy Member of UK Parliament and secretary of UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Somaliland said “ Somaliland needs the protection of the international community if it is to maintain its position as beacon of stability in a troubled region. Formal recognition of its existence as an independent sovereign state would be a significant first step.” The president of Somaliland Dahir Rayale Kahin made a speech in the British Parliament a couple of years ago, and many times repeatedly shown his concern by saying “Lack of re-recognition could mean that Somaliland cannot enter a formal trade agreements with other nations or seek assistance from financial institutions although the country has unexploited opportunities.”

The opposition leaders in Somaliland have a common stand on the issue of re-recognition with the President and the government. Mr. Faisal Ali Warabe, Somaliland’s UCID opposition party leader, and a presidential candidate in 2008 asks “”Somaliland was a recognized country until its leaders illegally merged with southern Somalia. Why is the international community reluctant to honor the wishes of the same country that now wants to go back to its statusquo ante (original status as a country)? Somaliland simply wants its UN seat back”. In addition, Somaliland’s other KULMIYE opposition party leader, and also a presidential candidate in 2008 Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Sillanyo states “Will the International Community respect the choice of the Somaliland people? Will Britain do its moral duty to influence and lead the international community to respect the choice of Somaliland people as it once did back in 1960? Will Somaliland be considered as a Commonwealth member during the upcoming meeting?”

Jamal Ali Hussein, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Citibank Cote d’Ivoire – WEST AFRICA.

First published 6 Nov 2007 Kenyan “People Daily” Newspaper.

http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2007/303/05.shtml

New Petition

I’ve started a new petition at change.org to try and get the issue of Somaliland independence recognised by the government.  Details can be found here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/uk-government-recognise-somalilands-legitimate-claim-to-independence

Please, please *please* take two seconds to sign the petition and two more to pass it on and encourage others to sign.  Your support will make a difference.

Thank you!

Somalia – Let’s focus on solutions, not problems.

Somalia – Let’s focus on solutions, not problems..

The Prime Minister’s Attitue Toward Somaliland

The APPG on Somaliland last had a meeting … AGM …. 18 months ago on 6 July 2010 , the day before PM was asked to comment in Parliament on Somaliland ‘ s Presidential Election …

PM sadly avoided totally the vital Policy of Somaliland , which is SOVEREIGNTY … .. ..but PM REFERRED TO UK SECURITY …. rightly…..as UK had recently built … on Hargeisa “Parliament Square ” …..a breeze-block 15 feet high fort topped with razor wire for UK SECURITY ……

PM stated that UK security depended on Somaliland ..,… BUT NO MENTION OF SOVEREIGNTY for Somaliland…… even though that Presidential Election had been a model for all the world ….. right in the middle of the most unstable region of the world .

The loss for Somaliland ( in UK Policy ) is the elimination of the Colonial Office and the India Office : as well as the submergence of the War Office and The Commonwealth Relations Office …. Those four Offices ….. ( as well as competing for the best staff )……. aimed , with devoted conscientious civil servants , to serve the British Overseas Peoples ( and much better than any other imperial power , including USA ) .

The Civil and Military Officers overseas laboured happily …… with complete devotion … for the successful advancement and development and progress of the local Communities and Soldiers . ( like Major John Drysdale MBE , A&SH , who is STILL , in his nineties , working in Hargeisa for the Pastorlists’ modern land tenure… the President went recently to present him with his Somalilanders ‘ passport )

UK would do well ( or MUST ) consider our moral duty to the country ( Somaliland ) which saved us in our desperate struggle to avoid defeat ( and consequent fascism ) in the attacks on us and our people in Africa , in the Indian Ocean and in Asia 1940 – 1945 ( and UK should ACT to understand and achieve the crucial need of Sovereignty for The REPUBLIC of Somaliland )

The UK is duty-bound to help

UK are duty bound to help the suffering poor Asian crew hostages who are brutally treated without any help from their shipping companies

Somalia is chaos as a legacy of fascist Italian colonialism

Somaliland is a brilliant example of a poor country becoming an example to the world of peace , democracy and happy people living in harmony …… that is a legacy of the 1880 -1960 excellent British Protectorate managed by the sensible cooperation of Somaliland Clans and British Colonial Office Civil Servants

Somaliland will help restore Somalia ….. when Somaliland is a Sovereign Nation as recommended by AU 2005 Fact Finding Mission …… and when Somalia has the sense and humility to accept its own awful chaos and the LEGAL right of Somaliland to Sovereignty .

Somaliland are neighbours , they are Muslims , they speak Somali together

UK , our part , is to propose Somaliland is RE-RECOGNIZED FORTHWITH ………….then confer on Somalia piracy and famine in Somalia ………… with Somaliland as an equal Sovereign Nation

The 23 Feb Major International Conference is good if that preparation is done in January . now

The Media and the Public must be informed

Yours sincerely

TK

Border Issues

Dear Friends of Somaliland ,

Where Somaliland ‘s frontier with Somalia causes alarm due to Clan relations , it must be understood that the frontier is ( and was ) established ( and surveyed ) with international and Clan agreement IN 1880 ONLY WHEN Sovereignty comes will this alarm go before the international court of Justice at The Hague

TK

(TK are the initials of the friend and activist who inspired me to start this blog.  This is *his* message which I feel is beneficial for all to read).

PM’s conference on Somalia – 23rd February

On 23rd February 2012  David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister will be hosting a conference aimed at looking at ways to tackle the current issues with Somalia such as terrorism and piracy.  I want to make sure that recognition of Somaliland’s independence is also something that will be discussed – earnestly – at the conference, but to do that I need your help and support.  Write to your local MP’s – tell them about the issues and make a real difference!

If we can get recognition of independence of Somaliland then there is real hope for tackling the ongoing issues in Somalia.