Somaliland Republic Location Horn of Africa facing the Red sea and the Gulf of Aden

Independence from Britain- 1960 then Somalia- 1991
Currency Somaliland Shilling

Official languages Somali, English, Arabic Capital city- Hargeisa, Other major cities, Burao, Borama, Berbera, Erigavo, Las Anod. Area - Total 137,600km²(68,000 sq. miles) Population - Total 3,500,000

System of government Republic, Executive: President, vice president and council of ministers, Legislature: Bicameral parliament in the form of the Upper House (Golaha Guurtida) Lower House of representatives (Golaha Wakiilada), Independent judiciary: Supreme Court (Maxkamada Sare).

Prime minister (de facto head of state)
26 Jun 1960 - 1 Jul 1960 M Haji Ibrahim Egal (short lived state-one week)

The Dark Period

1960-1969 Dubious union with

Somalia

1964 War with

Ethiopia

1969-1991 Dictatorship under

Somalia’s Barre Regime.

1977-78 War with

Ethiopia

1981-1991 Struggle for independence

1991-Present

Somaliland Republic is born and prospers in peace

Presidents of the Republic , 1991 - present

Abdurrahman Ali Tur :- 28 May 1991 - 16 May 1993
M.Haji Ibrahim Egal : - 16 May 1993 - 3 May 2002
Dahir Rayaale Kahin : 3 May 2002 –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Political parties

• UDUB
• KULMIYE
• UCID

 

From it’s inception on June 26th 1960, 34 countries including present permanent members of the security council recognized Somaliland before it joined former UN trusteeship under Italian control Somalia to form the Somali Republic on the 1st of July of that same year.

Followed 30 years of political, social, economical subjugation to the south not to mention a near genocide. Realism with the right dose of idealism was needed. Hence the

Republic of

Somaliland was born on May 18 1991 when the people reclaimed their sovereignty from

Somalia. Immediately the country renounced Somali irredentism forever as it was the main source of instability in the entire Horn of Africa. In essence by doing so

Somaliland has chosen peace, irresistible growth and victory (Democracy) over chaotic diffusion of energy and a permanent state of war (Dictatorship). Somali people inhabit Djibouti, Somaliland proper, Ethiopia’s 5th Region, Somalia as well as

Kenya’s Northern Region known as NFD. Aspiring once again to reunite all those territories inhabited by Somalis including by force as it has been in the past under the union with Somalia is no longer a viable alternative nor a wise political choice. Somaliland wishes to thrive in peace with all it’s neighbors The restoration of sovereignty simply means that the manifest integrity of the territory within the boundaries of former British Somaliland and the right of self determination for it’s people are both historic ,non negotiable and in accordance with the legal provisions of the AU Charter.When it jumped on the wagon of Democracy  paving the way for a new kind of good governance unheard of anywhere else,

Somaliland with its carefully nurtured hybrid democratic system truly incarnates a unique African Renaissance. The African Union has rightly concluded Somaliland “unique case for recognition” as indicated in it’s 2005 report of fact finding mission on

Somaliland

Once confined to Somaliland patriots only, long an issue solely for the learned academics and security experts, often times obscured by the headlines of mayhem beyond the south- eastern border it shares with Somalia, the inevitable issue of recognition of the Only Democracy in the Horn namely Somaliland is now more than ever relevant.

 

Aweekly show on 18 Doughty Street called Talking With Tatchell. In this episode his guests share experiences from Somaliland..

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