Since Somaliland’s independence in 1991 its main foreign policy objective is to achieve international legal recognition. Because Somalia no longer exists as a state and the current TFG and its predecessors did not have the legal authority from which Somaliland could reclaim its sovereignty and legal nationhood, it rather focused on campaigning and lobbying Western, African countries and international institutions for its cause. Many of these countries and international organisations now generally accept that Somaliland is a de facto State and that it has demonstrated the will, determination, cohesion, stability and political maturity that is required for international recognition. This leads to many bilateral relationships and development support for Somaliland, but it did not lead to the hoped international recognition as an independent state.
The international campaign for recognition turned out to have other effects as well. Because Somaliland successfully distant itself from the chaos in Somalia but also distanced itself from other Somali’s. Many Somali’s in Somalia and throughout the world perceived Somaliland’s independence aspirations as hostile and counterproductive to the peace and reconciliation aspirations of Somalia. Ethiopia’s early support for Somaliland’s independence added more resentment to those questioning its claim for independence. And finally, concerns of internal political division and tribal politics in Somaliland, particularly in the regions of Sool , parts of Sanaag and sometimes in the Awdal region which surfaces from time-to-time although the latter has different concerns compared to that of the first two. This has created further negative implications to Somaliland’s bid for international recognition.
Over the years Somaliland’s diplomatic focus shifted from Ethiopia to the Republic of Djibouti and Kenya. A positive step for gaining a balanced support in the greater region. However Somalia remains the only legal authority from which Somaliland could reclaim its sovereignty from and Somali’s from Somalia are the stakeholders who can grant Somaliland it’s wish for recognition. Somaliland needs to gain grass root support from their Somali brothers in Somalia and abroad. Somaliland to show to the Somali public that its independence aspirations and Somalinimo go hand in hand, that it has genuine desire for fraternal and friendly relations, that it is concerned with the fate of Somalia and wishes to contribute to the peace, reconciliation and development efforts in the region. Last week a Somaliland delegation led by prominent poet Mohamed Warsame Hadraawi was send to Mogadishu to deliver aid to famine stricken families. The funds were raised by the people of Somaliland in solidarity and sympathy with their starving brothers and sisters in Somalia. This kind of initiative shows goodwill to all Somali’s and above all demonstrate Somaliland’s political maturity. And with enough goodwill from the Somali’s it may one day lead to recognition by their brothers from Somalia. This kind of recognition is much more preferred and desired then recognition from any other foreign country.
Even though Somalia no longer exists as a state, still diplomacy towards Somalia is much needed. Traditional diplomacy, the interaction between governments, would be ineffective as the TFG mandate doesn’t have a lot of support in Somalia and its mandate is ending by next year. So this would not have the added value needed in this case. But Somaliland could achieve its goals by using Public Diplomacy rather than traditional diplomacy. In international relations public diplomacy or people’s diplomacy, broadly speaking, is the communication with foreign public to establish a dialogue designed to inform and influence public attitudes and perception. It is practiced through a variety of instruments and methods ranging from personal contact and media interviews to the Internet and educational exchanges. Somaliland
should use Public diplomacy by effectively communicating with Somali publics around the globe through the use of mass media and through dealings with a wide range of nongovernmental entities(educational institutions, religious organizations, clan and ethnic groups) and influential individuals (business people, singers, writers) for the purpose of influencing the Somali public perceptions towards Somaliland. Even through sports and other social/cultural activities like music events and youth exchanges could be used to promote understanding of Somaliland’s case.
It involves not only shaping the message that Somaliland wishes to present, but also analyzing and understanding the ways that the message is interpreted by the public and developing the tools of listening and conversation as well as the tools of persuasion. With public diplomacy Somaliland would encourage understanding; listens and engages in dialogue; objectively displays national achievements and international goodwill to a broad Somali public. As shown last week by Hadraawi’s humanitarian visit to Moqadishu.
One of the most successful initiatives which embody the principles of effective public diplomacy is the creation of the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg after the second World War. It’s original purpose was to facilitate dialogue and function as a catalyzer for greater understanding between Europeans who first perceived each other’s as hostile after the World War. The Centre has been established as a residential and educational training and meeting Centre for the implementation of the Council of Europe’s youth policy. The Centre hosts around 150 activities, training courses, study sessions, consultative meetings and symposia dealing with development of youth in Europe. For more than 40 years the Centre played a key role in promoting and shaping its youth’s view towards fundamental values like equality, human rights, rule of law, democracy, discrimination against minorities, social exclusion, development and the unity of the continent.
Public diplomacy is seen as one of the most crucial tools in the practice of diplomacy today. And by using some people diplomacy Somaliland could strengthen its case and at the same time create better understanding, peace and cooperation among the Somali people in the Horn of Africa.
By: Khaalid Hassan.H. Mahamoud(Msc)
Former Policy Officer at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and previously worked with the International Labour Organisation in Somalia/Somaliland. Currently Member of Delft City Council in the Netherlands.
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Somaliland, time for some people’s diplomacy By: Khaalid Hassan.H. Mahamoud
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