A delegation of Ministers from Africa’s anticipated most democratic and politically stable nation, Somaliland Monday returned home after successful visit to Pacific Ocean Island country, Taiwan where they spent four days on the invitation of Taipei.
Led by the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Essa Kayd, the Ministers arrived last week in Taipei, the Capital City of Taiwan. On arrival, they were received by officials from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
They would then meet President Tsai Ing-wen at the Presidential official building in the Capital. Here, Dr. Essa Kayd extended salutations from Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi, government and its people to President Ing-wen, before thanks her for welcoming his deligation to what he referred to as “beautiful City of Taipei”.
He described his visit to Taiwan as a milestone in further establishing friendship and partnership between the two countries.
“This historic visit marks an important milestone in the strong and cordial relationship between our two countries,” noted the Foreign Affairs Minister, before adding that the two countries share common values and principles of good political and democratic governance.
Dr. Essa said at a press conference apart from the strong relations between the two countries, both nations uphold high levels of democracy, respect for human rights and women empowerment.
On his behalf, Somaliland Minister of Finance, Dr. Saad Ali Shire, said: “I acknowledge the great hospitality of the government and the people of Taiwan, it has been really incredible. Our relationship is young, but in that short period, our cooperation has been deep and diverse. Our relationship is mutual, there is a lot we can learn from Taiwan and a lot we can share in diverse areas including security, development and investment. We look forward in prospering that relationship in the future.”
It should be noted that despite being practically independent with all the attributes of a nation, the international community still regards it as a place in Somalia.
The country has its own flag, currency, passport, government system, public institutions and national army who fully control the territory of the nation.
Its efforts to be recognized have for years hit a dead end.
Just like Somaliland, Taiwan is also not recognized as an independent but the two countries are good examples of democracy and development to the rest of the world.
The birth of Somaliland’s independence
Somaliland is the 12th African nation to become independent from the colonial with an official Royal Proclamation of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This means Somaliland became independent way before 42 African countries.
Soon after the Somaliland independence from the British rule, 34 countries recognized our nation as an independent state, including members of the Security Council, but after only 5 days, our people decided to voluntarily unite with the next door Somalia when they received independence from Italy to create the Somali Republic.
The dream was to have a greater Somali Republic in the horn, waiting for other Somali inhabited territories including Djibouti, North Eastern Province of Kenya and Somali region of Ethiopia to join the Union and that’s the reason the Somalia Flag still have the White star at the middle with Five edges, each edge represents the 5 territories that Somali people permanently inhabit.
Unfortunately the first marriage between the first two Somali states failed. Although it was never legal and there was NO union act ratified by joint parliament, however, the union was entirely turbulent and unsatisfactory.
After 31 years of difficulties, injustice, inequalities, and prejudice, that union ended horribly with 11 years of War against Somalia’s military regime which claimed the lives of a quarter of a million of the Somaliland people after civilians were shelled and cities were bombed and leveled it to the ground by the military.
In 1991, Somalilanders defeated and destroyed the military deployed to their land by the military government, declaring their withdrawal from the failed union they have been part of, for more than 3 decades.
The nation seeks recognition on grounds that they are the same Somaliland that received independence from Britain on 26th of June 1960.
The aalso argue that it is the same Somaliland that has been recognized by 34 countries including permenant members of the security council, and one that received congratulatory notes from Her Majest Quees Elizabeth II, Christian Herter, the US secretary of state at that time and many other international leaders.
Many questions continue to linger as to why a nation with a functioning and forceful government which is democratically elected by the people, one with a permanent population of 5 million and the capacity to enter into relations with other states, as already witnessed, is taking too long to be recognized.
Also read: https://plusnews.ug/somaliland-unrecognized-nation-with-all-trappings-of-countryhood/