Johannesburg (SD) – The International Foreign Policy Journal, has published a lengthy Foreign Policy Report commenting on Somaliland’s quest for recognition.

Lynsey Chutel, a foreign policy journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, published a lengthy article in Foreign Policy that Somaliland has been calling for international recognition for 30 years. Its independence, by presenting activities including elections that are indicative of the democratic process it has implemented, by presenting activities including elections that are indicative of the democratic process it has implemented.

“For 30 years, Somaliland has called for its independence as a sovereign nation. Now, as Somalia is gripped by its latest democratic crisis and Somaliland unveiled a new strategically-located container port in Berbera last month, the semi-autonomous region hopes the international community will view its own election and economic potential as a sign it should be allowed to break away.” Wrote Lynsey Chutel.
The report said that Somaliland views the recent parliamentary and local council elections as a sign of its economic potential and deserves international recognition.

Somaliland Representative to the United States Bashir Good quoted in the report said that Somaliland has not reached the required level, but believes it is on the right track.

“We’re not saying we’re perfect; we’re saying we’re on the right path,” Bashir Goth, head of the Somaliland mission to the United States, told Foreign Policy. “Election is one factor, but there are areas we are doing well—security and other areas—and we hope with international recognition, we will be able to be a very good member of the international community and we will do even better.”

The newspaper covers the history of Somaliland in the 1960s after its independence from the British colonial rule, the union with and the independence on May 18, 1991.

“In 1991, Somaliland’s leaders decided to break away, forming a polity with all the trappings of statehood: a currency, a passport, and a president of its own. It also has a national day, each year celebrating its decision to break away with parades, with this year’s 30-year milestone attracting additional fanfare on May 18.” The report said.

The report also wrote about the potential impact of Somaliland’s quest for recognition on the African Union’s view that if Somaliland is recognized, there may be other African countries in the region that can claim independence.

“It’s a valid question, but it’s the wrong analogy. It’s like saying if one African country is not doing good, all African countries are bad,” Goth said. “All the 30 years we have been out of Somalia, we were building our peace, building our institutions, building our democracy. We have all the requirements of a state.”

Somaliland continues its quest for recognition, but countries such as the United States and other Western countries are delaying the issue, and the African Union has not yet made that decision, the report concluded.