UN envoy to Somalia and Somaliland describes Somaliland as ‘separate’ state of Somalia

By Moha Dahir Farah Jire

HARGEISA, Somaliland – Following last week’s statement by the Somaliland ministry for foreign affairs statement expressing its resentment in regards to the report of Ban Ki Moon, UN General Secretary to the security council which described security in Somaliland as being ‘fragile’ and omitting in his report the trip made by his Special envoy Ahmedou Ould Abdallah to Somaliland and talks with officials of the Somaliland government that Ahmedou Ould Abdallah this week in a press conference made mention of the visit .

Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah made mention of Somaliland by saying, “I found Somaliland so peaceful, safe and well organized country on my visit and was very impressed with what I have seen there. He continued and said, “Somalilanders are working hard I hope they can contaminate (positively) their brothers in the South”. Abdallah in the press conference also refereed to Somaliland as separate state from Somalia. The statement by Abdallah was welcomed by Somalilanders both within Somaliland and abroad and was received with appreciation by the Somaliland ministry of foreign affairs.

The omission by the UNSC had prompted Somalilanders to evoke memories of the former UN special envoy of Somalia and Somaliland Mr. David Steven in 2000 year to the then General Secretary of the UN Kofi Anan which did not represent the true reality of Somaliland’s situation either politically or economically and had alluded towards preferring to subject Somaliland to a failed federation with Southern Somalia of 1960.

Somaliland is a de facto independent republic located in the Horn of Africa. Formerly called British Somaliland, the Republic of Somaliland became independent on June 26, 1960 and united with Italian Somaliland five days later to form the Somali Republic. On May 18, 1991, the people of Somaliland declared independence from Somalia.