SOMALILAND STUCK ON RECOGNITION

Continuing of our last column titled "Somaliland stuck on borders" actually Somaliland didn't stuck on border issues only but, stuck on finding recognition from African countries, Arabs, Wester Europe, North America, Regional, and International Organizations, over the last 22 years too, spending millions of dollars of tax payers money, to hire group of lawyers, advisors, experts, and high mileage trips to overseas.

To all of these nothing done yet to them, except coming back home with empty handed, now the question is, what is wrong with their project, are they in the right side of this process. Simply no to this question, why Somaliland is not in the right position of this process, the answer of this question is as follows.

There are international standars to process such this huge project, let us take examples. Quebec is French spoken State in Canada which twice suggested to be sovereign or independent State from Canada in 1980 and 1995 Quebec leaders started to negotiate with the federal government of Canada, which was the right direction to do this job done, after long debate both Quebec and the federal government agreed to hold referendum for Quebeck citizens either to breakaway or remain part of Canada, the referendum was held and resulted "NO" because of that result Quebec remained to be part of Canada. The biggest reason Quebec couldn't breakaway was, people of Quebec voted down both referendums and were not ready to breakaway from Canada, that is why they voted "NO". 

An other example in Africa,  (Southern Sudan) after 23 years of bloody struggle between SPLA and Sudanese government ended to negotiate on roun table, priorities were given to have peaceful solutions and end the civil war, second project was to create environment to built a coalition government or "National Unity Goverment", third project was power-sharing, fourth project was resource sharing, and fith project was to hold referendum after 5 years, for southerners to breakaway from the rest of Sudan or remain part of it.

What is the main factor both Quebec and Sudanese sides share, Quebec leaders started to negotiate with federal government before declaring any unilateral decisions, but Somaliland declared unilateral decisions with out respect of the mainland. SPLA led by late John Garang agreed with Sudan to have National Unity Government, means to join Sudanese government first and made the refrumdom option last code. Which finally resulted to break from Sudan after 5 years of coalition government. The factor they share both Quebec and SPLA is, being part of system first and negotiated.

Now is there any factor Somaliland shares with these examples we mentioned above, "NO", ok how about the out standing questions of "do Somalilanders agree all of them the idea of breaking away project from mainland Somalia?" What about the different tribes who belong to those States in North Somalia, do they welcome this project or vote down against?. Is there any political disaffection among these tribes?, or is only enough to hear one voice from one tribe one side to declare breakaway decisions, who are the decision makers?, let us analyse all these to our next column.

Continues.......

SAID ABDI HIRSI

Los Angeles, California.

Email: somalitimes@gmail.com