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HAN
Note:  IGAD
Breaking News (HAN) February 2nd, 2007.
 Somaliland
Ethiopia
Eritrea
Djibouti
Kenya
Somalia
Sudan
Uganda
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The Geeska Afrika Editorial Board and HAN Regional
Reporters would like to appeal to our readers and observers to Facilitate
regional commentary amicably to act as an independent, objective and impartial body so
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Regional Security Assessments Of The Somaliland Policies
Djibouti
(HAN) February 2nd, 2007 - For the last two weeks, a number of
trucks transporting legitimate and taxed goods to the Somali State of
the Federal Republic of Ethiopia have been terrorized, ambushed, robbed,
and burnt by the Al-Itihad/ONLF terrorists operating in the Somali zone
state. As a result of this terrorism, Somaliland traders have lost
hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property, and millions
of dollars worth of trade and taxes between the two neighboring states
(Ethiopia and Somaliland).
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For the last two weeks, a number of trucks transporting
legitimate and taxed goods to the Somali State of the Federal
Republic of Ethiopia have been terrorized, ambushed, robbed, and
burnt by the Al-Itihad/ONLF terrorists operating in the Somali
zone state. As a result of this terrorism, Somaliland traders
have lost hundreds
of thousands of dollars worth of property, and millions of
dollars worth of trade and taxes between the two neighboring
states (Ethiopia and Somaliland).
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Moreover, the operation and provocation of these Al-itihad/ONLF
terrorists in the region has undoubtedly retarded progress and
development of the Somali zone State, disrupted the border trade between
the two countries, and may eventually endanger the Somaliland and
Ethiopia border security arrangements if nothing is done to reverse this
dangerous development in the region. The Assessment we must count what
was achieved for the now 15 year’s old Republic of Somaliland within the
global world policies. The results are by all means rather meager and
this for some objective reasons...but also for some subjective
weaknesses of the Government's) from very beginning.. I would like to
clarify, that the Assessments given here are in noway ment as a critics
to the current strategies of the foreign policies by the Somaliland
Government. The aim is to give a broader perception from the German and
European point of view on all the necessary strategies for the benefit
of the Republic of Somaliland and Somalilanders as an Nation.
By objective reasons we firstly have to consider, that the security
situation immediately after the proclaimed independence was not
satisfactory within the country; therefore the Legitimacy of the new
Government was questionable by international standards. Further more,
the OAU (AU) was unwilling to consider that the Sovereignty of the
Republic of Somaliland was a result of an genuine national revolution
within the civil war in the then Somalia...fearing, that this "opening
of the Pandora box" would create new severe problems for whole of
Africa, regarding the integrity and boundaries between the African
states...
The then President Egal have up to some extent successfully counter-fighted
such maneuvers, - specially these by the Arab states under the Egyptian
leadership, - by clear statements about the Legitimacy of
Re-Proclamation of Independence and return to the Status Quo Ante, where
the Republic of Somaliland was sui generis an independent state and
internationally recognized by all the relevant subjects of the
International Law.
Pointing to the fact, that the right for self-determination and
subsequently national sovereignty could not have been "consumed" by the
freely conducted unification with the Somali Republic, President Egal
has won the sympathies throughout the (Black) Africa, specially by South
Africa. It was also clarified, that the return to the national
boundaries of the colonial and post-colonial era was fully in accordance
with the all- African- consensus of the only validity of the state
boundaries defined by the colonial era.
Starting from these prepositions some crucial errors has been committed
in the following years. It would have been necessary to assess the
objective parameters of the Arab League towards Somalia and
Somaliland...Instead, there was a long living Illusion that the Arabs
would finally, within the "Islamic solidarity", support the justly
struggle of the Somalilanders for their national sovereignty. Precious
human and political resources of the new state has been wasted to
persuade the "brotherly Arab states" to reconsider their stand. As a
result, an anti Somaliland propaganda was initiated by the Arab block
within the international community. The dictatorial regimes of Cairo and
Khartoum have started a crusade against the young Somaliland
democracy...with always new black-mailings towards black African states,
Europe and the USA..."not to interfere in the matters on Horn"...
This strategy has worked for a period of time. But with the ongoing
civil war in Sudan and the fragility of the Egyptian regime this has
became more difficult - for them...Their latest "success" by the
AU-Summit against Somaliland has to be considered as a Phyrus Victory,
as their "Swan Song"....A group of African states has openly sided with
Somaliland and this fact has to be more exploitated in the near future.
The Strategy must take in to the consideration to utilize an
US-European-(black) African Alliance for the recognition of the
Independence of the Republic of Somaliland. Hard work, all over again,
must be done specially in Europe. Here we have to take in to the
account, that only Italy, - by its postcolonial paranoia, - has to be
considered as an "enemy" to Somaliland. France will stands "neutrally",
by all means, also vis-a-vis Djibouti...Britain is the first address and
it is clear, that London more and more supports the
recognition...Germany, - "burnt" by the own experiences by initiating
the recognition of Croatia and Slovenia during the ongoing Balkan Civil
Wars, - is nevertheless willing to participate in any of the British
initiatives, being self actively engaged in controlling of Airspace and
the Maritime Routes on the Horn of Africa. This European initiative,
coordinated with the efforts by South Africa and (hopefully!) Ethiopia
should enable the USA, - as the still major player in the Region, - to
engage more directly, without fears to be accused of any of
"imperialistic" attitudes...Specially, after wrongly being engaged in
support of Mogadishu-Militias in the past...
Ethiopia will play a crucial role in these strategies. It has to be more
persuaded to honestly play his role...not under the agenda, that..."We
love the Somalis so much, that we prefer to have Five of them"...which
up to now has ment to "have" them all weak...Somaliland has forever
disassociated itself from any of "great Somalian projects", which has
caused the miseries not only for the Somali People(s) in the Region, but
also for their neighbors. Addis Ababa must understand, that only the
strong and sovereign Somaliland can guarantee the peaceful future for
Ethiopia and its economic interests...specially in view of the Berbera
Corridor. And by all means the huge Oil-Winning-Projects in Ogaden,
which could go together with similar projects in Somaliland, Pipeline,
with Refineries in Berbera, etc.
The punctual assessment of the goals and results of the Somaliland
Foreign Policy has clearly showed, that the strategically important
Somaliland, situated in the Gulf of Aden, near the entrance of Bab El
Mandab, can play an stable role in the Region and become one of the
guarantors for the Peace and Stability of the Region and the Security of
International Maritime Routes towards Europe and the USA and
southeasterly towards Africa, the Gulf and entire Asia. This must be
clearly stated toward the friendly states. London, with his affinities
towards the former Protectorate and its people, should be the starting
point of such strategies...With close coordination with Berlin, then
Brussels and Paris and of course, with Washington. Pretoria and Nairobi,
but fore mostly Addis must be incorporated in to the new Offensive of
Somaliland Foreign Policy. The vivid democracy and the rejection of
political Islamism and Terrorism are the best legitimacies of the
Republic of Somaliland in the concert of free Nations of the World. The
time has come to exploit these capitals now.
Opinion contributed to Geeska Afrika with Notes by: Velimir
Philo Tomulic
HAN
Note: Velimir Philo Tomulic is a longstanding friend and supporter of
Somaliland for many years and was actively engaged in the late nineties
in support of the Republic abroad, specially within his own country and
the European Union. He was a personal friend of the then President Egal,
and conducted many missions abroad onbehalf of the late President, Egal.
He is a politologist, also specialized in the international public
(diplomatic) law.
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