Somaliland: 52nd Somaliland Independence and
Somaliland-Somalia Dialogue in London
Sharif & Silanyo- Reunification or Separation
It has been 52 years from the independence of Somaliland
on 26th June 1960. Somaliland peo ple ended 73 years of
British rule in peaceful manner, unlike many African
countries who gain ed bloodshed sovereignty. At the
start of British rule, the Somalilanders accepted
British into Somaliland with conditions including that
British must leave the country anytime asked.
Secretary of State for the Colonies (1959-1961) Iain
Macleod announced independence of So maliland after
extensive meetings with Somaliland politicians including
Statesman Mohamed H. I. Egal in London on constitution
and independence related topics. Mr. Macleod underscored
that people of Somaliland demanded the independence, and
based on earlier agreements, Her Majesty, the Queen
decided to fulfill the wish of the people of Somaliland
to unite with Italian Somaliland, which ended UN
Trusteeship on 1st July 1960.
Somaliland, Nigeria and British Cameroon become
independent same period of time. Britain's h andover of
Reserve Area (currently part of 5th Region of Ethiopia)
to Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie accelerated the end
of 80 years of British protectorate. Such handover
triggered an ger between Somalilanders and all people
wore white sheet on their forehead, as an expressi on of
disappointment.
The newborn nation named State of Somaliland was
celebrated for two days across the count ry from Elayo
to Lowya Addo. Statesman Mohamed H.I. Egal was nominated
as Prime Minister by the elected parliament of State of
Somaliland until 14th July 1960. He was MP elected from
Berbera City and General Secretary of SNL Party. A large
number of dignitaries attended the celebration including
Speaker of the Parliament in Italian "Somalia" Mr. Aden
Abdallah Osman (Aden Adde). Mr. Aden Osman, who was
later nominated as first President of Somali Republic,
said during the Somaliland flag-hoisting ceremony "the
people of Italian Somalia were eagerly awaiting
independence".
A message from the Queen was delivered in Hargeisa by
Mr. T. E. Bromley, British Consul-Gene ral, on the
occasion on Somaliland Independence Day. The Message
said: "I, my Government and my people in the United
Kingdom, wish you well on this day of independence. The
connecti on between our people goes back some 130 years
and British administration of the Protector ate for 60
years. I look forward to a continuing and enduring
friendship between our two cou ntries."
The elected Prime Minister of State of Somaliland
Mohamed H. I. Egal responded with a tribute to the
British association, saying: "We have not always seen
eye to eye, but we share a Com mon ideal in the simple
things of life. This is not the end of British-Somali
relations. These relat ions are simply taking another
shape for the better."
Unfortunately, the independent Somaliland united with
Italian "Somalia" unconditionally throw ing away its
sovereignty. The dark history of Somaliland started
exactly after the unity, wher e angry Somalilanders
plotted a coup just one year from the unity to restore
their misplaced nation, but failed. Somalilanders lost
all their rights in the new Somali Republic.
Until today, Somalians failed to understand the reality
on Somaliland-Somalia relations. They claim of
discussing with Somaliland about possible remarriage,
while Somaliland government underlined that Somaliland
sovereignty is not negotiable and Somaliland can talk to
"Somalia" on sorting out the shared issues, and that
Somaliland will help "Somalia" on democratization and
post-war conflict resolutions.
I personally believe talking to Transitional Federal
Government (TFG) of "Somalia" at the pres ent will be
unfruitful because of many factors: Foreign Forces are
protecting the TFG offices and too weak to stand on its
feet. TFG don't control majority of the "Somalia", in
another me aning, TFG government in Mogadishu don't
represent Somalians. TFG mandate will end mid-Au gust,
and it is almost impossible for TFG to establish
complete functioning government all over the former
Italian "Somalia" in the remaining days. The
international community accused Presi dent of TFG Sheikh
Sharif and his cabinet ministers for financial
irregularities, which puts under suspicion.
TFG is appointing Somaliland-born individuals in both
its negotiation committee for Somaliland-Somalia
Dialogue in London and the cabinet, which shows TFG's
lack of respect of the desire a nd decision of the
people of Somaliland. Somaliland must speak to TFG only
if it avoids the appo intment of Somaliland-born
mercenaries, who are after money and personal gains in
Mogadis hu.
The international community cannot block Somaliland
right of self-determination due to instab ility in
"Somalia". Somaliland people who support Somaliland
Independence can easily make mo re than 80% of the 3.5
million population of Somaliland. We know that 51% voted
for indepen dence in Montenegro, where Bosnia
Herzegovina and East Timor had large Anti-Independence
groups during referendums in these territories. These
minorities of such countries could not stop the
majority, and Somaliland will be a nation in the very
near future.
BY: ABDULAZIZ AL-MUTAIRI
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