Ubique - remembering Somaliland

Ubique - remembering Somaliland, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

Illustrating the point I made yesterday about Somaliland deserving our support, here is a quote from a debate in The House of Commons in 2004:

The people of Somaliland have worked extremely hard to rebuild their country and community, and they deserve our help and support. Somaliland supported this country during the Second World War. It is worth recalling that 91,000 Italian troops, together with 200,000 local troops raised by the Italians, confronted 9,000 soldiers, mainly from the Somaliland Scouts and the Somaliland Camel Corps. The BBC documentary, "The Second World War", reported that the Italians

"were held at bay for four days"

and that our troops had

"inflicted over 2,000 casualties at a cost of around 250 men."

The documentary concluded:

"Furthermore, the impression that their defence left on the Italians would greatly influence future actions."

The people of Somaliland stood shoulder to shoulder with us in the past and, as the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie said, they have done everything asked of them. They have had free and fair presidential and municipal elections. When we addressed both their Houses of Parliament and said that they would need parliamentary elections, there was no dissent. They said that they had to address some issues to achieve that, but that they want to do so. If ever a community deserved long-term development assistance, it is the people of Somaliland.

Source: Charles Fred Blog:

http://charlesfred.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html

RAF 1920 - Somaliland Camel Corps in British Somaliland

1920

Jan - Feb 1920- The RAF's first "little war". RAF units were involved in operations with the Camel Corps in British Somaliland (now Somalia) to overthrow Dervish leader Mohammed bin Abdullah Hassan, the "Mad Mullah". The airborne intervention was "the main instrument and decisive factor" in the success of the operation. Ten dH9s were dispatched to form "Z Force", and were used for bombing, strafing and as air ambulances.

5 Feb 1920- The RAF College opened at Cranwell, Lincolnshire.

1 Apr 1920- The WRAF was disbanded.

3 Jul 1920- Over 60,000 spectators attend the first RAF Pageant at Hendon, London.

Source: http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/raftimeline19181929.cfm

SOMALILAND Scouts - War Covers

No. 736

1947 cover & letter - SOMALILAND Scouts

£45

1947 (Oct.) cover & letter from NYASALAND to 'c/o Major H French, SOMALILAND Scouts, British Somaliland' with s/r. HARGEISA receipt p/m. Roughly opened. BRITISH PROTECTORATE. Fighting Nov. & riot in Dec. 1947.

Source: http://www.warcovers.com/news_e_1.htm

Somaliland: UK ignores potential commonwealth member

The Prime Minister at that time, Harold Macmillan, told the House of Parliament:
“I should like to say, however, that it is Her Majesty’s Government’s hope that whatever may be the constitutional future of the Protectorate, the friendship which has been built up between its people and those of the United Kingdom for so many years will continue and indeed flourish.” – [Official Report, 11 April 1960;Vol.621,c.104W.]

By Jamal Ali Hussein

6 November 2007

As the Commonwealth countries meeting is about to start in Uganda during November 2007, the United Kingdom citizens who are originally from Somaliland are currently worried about the situation of their original mother country. They are amazed by the lack of Britain’s role in leading the way to promote Somaliland to a successful re-recognition. Somaliland Community particularly want the British Government to remember the words of its Prime Minister Harold Macmillan during early 1960s when Somaliland was about to receive its independence from Britain. The Prime Minister at that time, Harold Macmillan, told the House of Parliament:

“I should like to say, however, that it is Her Majesty’s Government’s hope that whatever may be the constitutional future of the Protectorate, the friendship which has been built up between its people and those of the United Kingdom for so many years will continue and indeed flourish.” – [Official Report, 11 April 1960;Vol.621,c.104W.]

Somaliland Republic (former British Somaliland) received its independence from Britain on June 26 th, 1960, and it was immediately recognized by 34 UN Member States, including the five Permanent Members of the Security Council. This made Somaliland to be the first independent Somali country to become a member of the United Nations before uniting voluntarily with the Italian Somaliland (current Somalia) on July 1 st, 1960 to form what was known as the Somali Republic in pursuit of irredentist dream of “Greater Somalia” including parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti. Somaliland decided to re-instate its sovereign independence from Somalia after the fall of Siyad Barre regime in 1991. Somaliland is only seeking re-recognition within the borders received at the time of independence from Britain 1960. Somaliland, not officially re-recognized by any state, has been functioning as a constitutional democracy with a president directly elected by the people, added by a parliament and local government also directly elected by the people. Somaliland’s existing multi-party democracy system is rarity in Africa and the Muslim world.

British Somaliland was either a protectorate or colony for Britain nearly 80 years. Somaliland Scouts regiment even played an important role during Second World War. There is no doubt that Somaliland people feel let down by the British Government since Somaliland re-instated its sovereignty due to their historical relationship. But with Prime Minister Brown’s government, Somalilanders are hopeful that Britain will look into Somaliland’s re- recognition issue with fresh eyes. It is important to note that Somaliland is one of few African countries where the government does not receive a budgetary support from the international community; it is one of only few African countries where the President is directly elected by the people. Yet, no government came forward to recognize it. It has been reported that several countries had indicated that they do not want to be the First, but the 2 nd or the 3 rd etc to re-recognize Somaliland. Mr. Eid Ali Ahmed, member of Somaliland Societies in European and Chartered Fellow of UK Institute of Personnel and Development said “There is a long history between the people of Somaliland and the United Kingdom people. The people of Somaliland strongly believe that they need to have a powerful sponsor like East Timor, and Kosovo had in order to persuade the International Community start listening its voice, and that is where United Kingdom (Commonwealth leader) should have come in”. Mr. Eid Ali Ahmed added “ Somaliland is not the first nation that entered a voluntarily union and subsequently withdrawn from the union. Senegal and Gambia, Egypt and Syria, Senegal and Mali have all done likewise.”

It is important to note that a number of British members of Parliament visited Somaliland in many occasions, and encouraged the British Government to look into the Somaliland re-recognition issue. The most memorable debate on Somaliland issue in the house of British Parliament is the one organized by the Hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Tony Worthington) in 2004 after he and other honorable members just returned from a visit in Somaliland. There was no one who could make a better case for Somaliland re-recognition than those British MPs. The honorable Tony Worthington said during the debate “ Somaliland has rebuilt its country without international assistance. It has acted totally on democratic lines, and the demand for independence was supported in a referendum by more than 90 percent of the population. The level of stability is impressive. I was far more impressed with the country than those of several other African countries that I have visited – countries that we recognize and support. Somaliland is doing nearly everything right, but it is being ignored.” The British MP in addition said “It is worth noting that Somaliland people supported, and stood shoulder to shoulder with Britain during the Second World War.”

The private sector in Somaliland is thriving, and now boasts of several private airlines, four electricity companies and five telecommunications companies, which offer both mobile and landline telephone services. People of Somaliland would tell you that they did not have any of those businesses for 31 years of marriage with Southern Somalia. One of the most remarkable aspects of Somaliland achievements include the major contributions made by the Somaliland Diaspora community particularly the ones living in the United Kingdom, Europe, Middle East, and North America.

Somaliland residents in Britain have pleaded with the UN not to deny Somaliland the right guaranteed in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The people of Somaliland are questioning the world community's action as it also contradicts Articles 15 (1) and (2) which states that "everyone has the right to nationality" and that "no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the rights to change his/her nationality respectively." The action runs counter to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights -Article 1 which states that "all peoples have right of self-determination. By virtue of that right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development". In the absence of codified rules, it seems that the conventional wisdom has been that states recognize or do not recognize other states on the basis of their selfish interests. In last January at a high-level meeting in Brussels, organized by Somaliland Societies in Europe and Somaliland Community in Belgium (SBC), Mrs. Gleyns Kinnock the Labor Member of European Parliament for Cardiff said, “Somalilanders’ pleas for international recognition for their country must be heard. The right to self-determination for all peoples is a fundamental principle enshrined in the UN Charter. Indeed, it is an anomaly that Somaliland is still denied recognition by the international community."

In last December Kerry McCarthy Member of UK Parliament and secretary of UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Somaliland said “ Somaliland needs the protection of the international community if it is to maintain its position as beacon of stability in a troubled region. Formal recognition of its existence as an independent sovereign state would be a significant first step.” The president of Somaliland Dahir Rayale Kahin made a speech in the British Parliament a couple of years ago, and many times repeatedly shown his concern by saying “Lack of re-recognition could mean that Somaliland cannot enter a formal trade agreements with other nations or seek assistance from financial institutions although the country has unexploited opportunities.”

The opposition leaders in Somaliland have a common stand on the issue of re-recognition with the President and the government. Mr. Faisal Ali Warabe, Somaliland’s UCID opposition party leader, and a presidential candidate in 2008 asks “"Somaliland was a recognized country until its leaders illegally merged with southern Somalia. Why is the international community reluctant to honor the wishes of the same country that now wants to go back to its statusquo ante (original status as a country)? Somaliland simply wants its UN seat back”. In addition, Somaliland’s other KULMIYE opposition party leader, and also a presidential candidate in 2008 Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Sillanyo states “Will the International Community respect the choice of the Somaliland people? Will Britain do its moral duty to influence and lead the international community to respect the choice of Somaliland people as it once did back in 1960? Will Somaliland be considered as a Commonwealth member during the upcoming meeting?”

Jamal Ali Hussein, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Citibank Cote d’Ivoire – WEST AFRICA.

First published 6 Nov 2007 Kenyan "People Daily" Newspaper.

http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2007/303/05.shtml

The Politics of Somaliland’s Self-Determination” - Feb.18, 2006

Hunwick Note

Evanston, Illinois, USA, Feb. 25, 2006 (SL Times) – The note below was part of the round table discussion entitled “The Politics of Somaliland’s Self-Determination” that took place on Feb.18, 2006 at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA. The Somaliland Times is pleased to share with its readers some of the insights of the participants. We are particularly pleased to know the role that professor Hunwick’s experiences in Somaliland had in stimulating his interest in Islamic and African studies. After all, despite his modesty, Dr Hunwick is the man who drew the attention of the world to the Timbuktu Manuscripts which laid to rest the notion that Africa had no written history.
My Experience of Somalia
By John Hunwick
Professor Emeritus,
Northwestern University

Although I have never done research on Somalia, part of that state was, nevertheless, the first African area that I visited, though regretfully, I have not yet returned there. In fact, some fifty years ago - before Somalia became a large independent state, I spent a year in British Somaliland, serving as a military officer of the local army, known as the "Somaliland Scouts". The British colonial area was to the north and west of the present independent Somalia, with a small French colonial area to its west, and to its east and extending down to Kenya was the Italian colony. British Somaliland also had, as its neighbor to the south of it, a part of Ethiopia, with occasional battles between nomads of both areas, which sectors of the "Somaliland Scouts" generally had to deal with and re-establish peace.

My first location was Hargeysa, the capital of British Somaliland, and the headquarters of the "Somaliland Scouts". I arrived there in September 1955, having sailed from England to Aden, and then flew over to Hargeysa. I was then sent to Burao, some 80 miles east of Hargeysa; and there I was given to learn about military vehicles including, for the first time, how to drive. Driving in British Somaliland was on desert-like tracks, except in Hargeysa (and partly in Burao), where there were regular British-style roads. After a month, or so, in Burao, I was then appointed to a regiment, and joined up with them in Ainabo to the south-east of Burao. Every regiment would change its location every six months, so before long I went back to Hargeysa with my military force, and ultimately to Adade before my military service - a total of two years - came close to an end, and I moved back to England - in August 1956.

My military service in British Somaliland was training of the soldiers of my regiment, and taking care of its vehicles (mainly small-ton trucks). However, I saw parts of the semi-desert country area, especially when my regiment was in an encampment near Adade. There were many various wild animals, including lions; and I had to take part in killing two of them: the first being a lion that had disturbed the evening practice of a group of soldiers of my regiment; and the other in help of some nomads whose sheep had been attacked - and some killed - by a lion.

British Somaliland was an attractive place for me. Many people - even in the army - spoke English to some extent, but I found it useful to be able to contact most people by speaking Somali. The Somali language had some influence of Arabic, since just about all Somalis were Muslims, and they claimed that they had moved into Somaliland many centuries ago from the Arabian Peninsula. I enjoyed working with them, and soon found their religious attitudes very attractive. Indeed, this convinced me to learn Arabic when I returned to England for university training, and with such knowledge, to learn more about Islam. Hence, I have continued to study Arabic and Islam in Africa - most especially related to West Africa, where I spent many first years of my academic career (in Nigeria and Ghana).Now, for five years, I have been running the "Institute for the Study of Islamic Thought in Africa (ISITA)" through our Program of African Studies.

Source: Somaliland Times
http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2005/214/30.shtml

Somaliland Scouts

The Somaliland Scouts was a Brigade in the British Army, formed after the liberation of British Somaliland from Italy in December 1941 and the dissolution of the Somaliland Camel Corps, formerly tasked with the defense of the protectorate.[1]

Originally formed as the Somali Guard Battalion, and tasked with defending the border between British and French Somaliland, it quickly rose in size and importance and became the Somali Companies in June 1942 before being renamed finally to the Somaliland Scouts in August 1943.[2]

In 1960, upon the merger of British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland and the independence of the Somali Republic, the Somaliland Scouts became the nucleus for the new Somali National Army.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somaliland_Scouts#cite_note-1