Somaliland and Its Neighbors

Pambazuka News published on 21 May 2014 commentary titled "Re-examining Somaliland's Relations with Neighboring States" by Mohamed Abdilahi Duale and Saeed Mohamed Ahmed, both based in Somaliland.  The authors argue that Somaliland's immediate neighbors--Ethiopia and Djibouti--should recognize the government in Hargeisa. 

Ethiopia Will Defend Somaliland

Detail of Hailemariam Desalegn portrait/Wikipedia

Speaking before the Ethiopian parliament on 18 May 2013, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said "We will spare no expense to defend and protect Somaliland."  The Prime Minister's unusually strong assurances seem to have been covered in most detail in a 19 May report in the Ethiopian Review titled "Breaking News: 'We Will Defend Somaliland,' Ethiopian PM Hailemariam Desalegn."  Tigraionline ran a briefer account of the prime minister's remarks titled "Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn Says We Will Defend Somaliland." 

Somalia, Somaliland and the Future

Edward Paice, director of the Africa Research Institute, an independent, non-partisan think tank in London, recently posted two commentaries on the future of Somalia and Somaliland.  One dated 8 May 2013 is titled "Negotiating Peace in Somalia--An Insight from Somaliland" and the other dated 9 May 2013 is titled "Why Elections Matter in Somaliland." 

Somalia, Somaliland and the United Kingdom

Ahmed M.I. Egal, a financial and business development consultant, wrote a highly critical piece on 12 July 2012 for Pambazuka News titled "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: The Somalia-Somaliland Talks and the British Co-Opted Roadmap." While I believe the commentary is excessively critical of both the United Kingdom and President Silanyo, it is particularly well written and raises some provocative questions.

Click here to read the commentary.