Category: Blog

Pocket of Stability: Understanding Somaliland

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Pocket of Stability: Understanding Somaliland

This piece is a comprehensive examination of Somaliland’s unusual development and current standing as a self-declared sovereign nation. Unlike Somalia, a state devastated by a perpetual 29 year conflict, Somaliland boasts a growing civil society along with a relatively vibrant democracy and accountability to the Rule of Law. Since 1991, the region has become a pocket of security and stability, in absence of formal recognition, by creating government and societal institutions that strongly suit the values and needs of its people. Continue reading “Pocket of Stability: Understanding Somaliland” →

African Agency & Chinese Power: The Case of Djibouti

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African Agency & Chinese Power: The Case of Djibouti

It seems unlikely that Djibouti – smaller than Belgium and with fewer than 1 million inhabitants – can expect to enjoy any agency vis-à-vis the Chinese behemoth.

Djibouti’s agency depends upon many factors, including its strategic geographical location; the great powers’ concern over the security of sea lanes of communications and, as a result, piracy in the Gulf of Aden; China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and interest in establishing a naval base there; and reactions to these Chinese decisions by Djibouti’s other partners. In other words, the great powers’ interest in and competition over Djibouti have widened this country’s room for maneuver. Continue reading “African Agency & Chinese Power: The Case of Djibouti” →

AU Should Have Been Instrumental in Resolving Somaliland Case

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AU Should Have Been Instrumental in Resolving Somaliland Case

The African Union has been slow to play a significant role in the Somaliland case at a time when it has been instrumental in stabilizing the Italian Somalia, as it is the authority that oversees AMISOM – which is of great value to Somalia’s security.

The mission of the African Union is to make possible a prosperous and peaceful Africa that is led by the will of its people – a picture that Somaliland represents for the last 29 years and recognized by the world.

From the start, the AU was involved in the processes and initiatives aimed at resolving the civil war in South Sudan in order to achieve a lasting peace and security. It has repeatedly called on its member states to be part of the resolution for that political disagreement by providing a platform for the parties to the conflict in South Sudan. Sudan itself when the military overthrew Omer Al Bashir, after the Sudanese uprising, the AU put pressure on the caretaker government to return the country to the civilian rule immediately by suspending Sudan’s membership in the AU Continue reading “AU Should Have Been Instrumental in Resolving Somaliland Case” →

Stringent Vetting of Foreign Investment Companies is Vital in Somaliland

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Stringent Vetting of Foreign Investment Companies is Vital in Somaliland

Ever since present-day Somaliland Republic declared its unilateral resumption of sovereignty, scores of rogue and scam investors have been trying to set feet in it to fraud the Somaliland people savings and exploit its natural resources. Continue reading “Stringent Vetting of Foreign Investment Companies is Vital in Somaliland” →

Ballot for Upcoming Elections must Include Referendum Statement on Dissolving the Union with Somalia

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Ballot for Upcoming Elections must Include Referendum Statement on Dissolving the Union with Somalia

Somaliland has held a referendum in 2001 throughout the country for ratifying the new constitution. That referendum was designed for the approval of the Somaliland Constitution, but it never intended to help the Somaliland case of dissolving its union with Italian Somalia. Continue reading “Ballot for Upcoming Elections must Include Referendum Statement on Dissolving the Union with Somalia” →

Somaliland Education Policy isn’t Catering for the Country

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While having in mind for some time now to comment on the Somaliland Education Policy, I stumbled upon this open letter to the Minister of Education, which heightened my concern. 

As education plays an important role in the life of the individual and in the society, as well as in the development and progress of each country, the Education Policy must be designed in a way that it can efficiently guide the education system and its basic components to cater for the needs in the country. Continue reading “Somaliland Education Policy isn’t Catering for the Country” →

Somaliland: The Burial Site for China’s Bullying

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Somaliland: The Burial Site for China's Bullying

The rising reputation of the Somaliland Republic as a functioning and viable state is beyond the bullying, the persuasion, and the pressure of China’s Dollar Diplomacy as the supreme decision makers and the ultimate driving force behind that success, in its entirety, rests with the Somaliland people, unlike many countries in Africa – a concept that is foreign to Beijing. Continue reading “Somaliland: The Burial Site for China’s Bullying” →

Convalescent Plasma: Promising Experimental Treatment for Covid-19 Replicable in Somaliland

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Convalescent Plasma: Promising Experimental Treatment for Covid-19 Replicable in Somaliland

This piece just sheds light on another tool and medical care that is readily available for covid-19 patients and efforts taking place elsewhere in the world in combating this epidemic. In these testing times,  raising awareness of new emerging ways of fighting with diseases and sharing information and resources with the overwhelmed essential and medical communities in Somaliland is an empowerment. Continue reading “Convalescent Plasma: Promising Experimental Treatment for Covid-19 Replicable in Somaliland” →

Somaliland President & Parties Leadership must Nominate Competent Candidates

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Somaliland President & Parties Leadership must Nominate Competent Candidates

First and foremost, congratulations to the Somaliland president and the leadership of the national opposition political parties – UCID and WADANI – on their ongoing efforts to iron out all the obstacles and impediments preventing the holding of national parliamentary and local municipalities elections, and also resolving all disputes that may have contributed to the unprecedented delay in conducting those elections. Continue reading “Somaliland President & Parties Leadership must Nominate Competent Candidates” →

UK, Denmark and Netherlands engaging with Somaliland Government on critical infrastructure

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UK, Denmark and Netherlands engaging with Somaliland Government on critical infrastructure

The new agreements, supporting projects on roads, agricultural systems, water facilities and fisheries, will spur economic growth, helping to support a secure and prosperous Somaliland Continue reading “UK, Denmark and Netherlands engaging with Somaliland Government on critical infrastructure” →