Medeshi Oct 11, 2008Somaliland Recognition
Somaliland declared its independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, yet with municipal , parliamentary and presidential elections, no country has so far recognised it.
On the contrary, the world has been in busy supporting the weak government in the south headed by the warlord-turned president , Abdillahi Yussuf .
The Montevideo Convention on Rights and Duties of States (1933), Art. 1:“The State as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with other states.”
It seems to me that Somaliland possesses all the requirements of statehood, except one. It has received no international recognition. Without recognition as a state, Somaliland is technically not a sovereign nation, despite how it currently operates.
Jennings and Watts, Oppenheim’s International Law, 9th ed., at p. 130:“The overwhelming practice of states does not accept that the mere claim of a community to be an independent state automatically gives it a right to be so regarded ….”
Somaliland is a prime example of the politics behind state recognition and why the above statement is sad but true. Without recognition as a sovereign state, Somaliland will receive little in the way of outside investment, aid when necessary, and trade. The process of development is that much harder because of it, and were Somalia to invade Somaliland, it could at best be seen as a civil war not warranting intervention by the UN and Powers That Be.
On May 14, 1948, the leaders of the Jewish organizations, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel, to take effect at midnight that night; and the United States recognized the provisional Jewish government as de facto authority of the Jewish state within minutes. (literally minutes). So why is it that Somaliland, over a decade later, fulfilling the requirements of statehood, is not being recognized ?
It seems to me that Somaliland possesses all the requirements of statehood, except one. It has received no international recognition. Without recognition as a state, Somaliland is technically not a sovereign nation, despite how it currently operates.
Jennings and Watts, Oppenheim’s International Law, 9th ed., at p. 130:“The overwhelming practice of states does not accept that the mere claim of a community to be an independent state automatically gives it a right to be so regarded ….”
Somaliland is a prime example of the politics behind state recognition and why the above statement is sad but true. Without recognition as a sovereign state, Somaliland will receive little in the way of outside investment, aid when necessary, and trade. The process of development is that much harder because of it, and were Somalia to invade Somaliland, it could at best be seen as a civil war not warranting intervention by the UN and Powers That Be.
On May 14, 1948, the leaders of the Jewish organizations, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel, to take effect at midnight that night; and the United States recognized the provisional Jewish government as de facto authority of the Jewish state within minutes. (literally minutes). So why is it that Somaliland, over a decade later, fulfilling the requirements of statehood, is not being recognized ?
