Surely Brexiteering Britain can recognise this fledgling nation
AS Britain wrestles with Brexit talks, one group of people in Wales are watching events further away across the globe, where a small, self-declared state is fighting for recognition to go it alone in a move which it says will boost prosperity and peace.
Some in the Welsh-Somali community say Brexiteers, at least, should understand Somaliland’s renewed calls to be recognised by the international community following largely peaceful elections there a few weeks ago.
The south of Somalia (Somaliland as it calls itself) broke away from its more unruly neighbour, the north, in 1991, in a move not officially recognised by the rest of the world.
Welsh Somalis, most of whom have links with the south, say it can only prosper if the world recognises efforts it has already made to run as a separate and more successful country.
They point out that the former British protectorate was not historically aligned to the north, a former Italian protectorate, until both gained back independence in 1960.
Welsh Somalis have close links to Somaliland and say they are lobbying for the country to be recognised so that it can benefit from international aid and business currently denied it.
Since declaring itself a country in its own right in 1991 it has created a working political system, a police force and its own currency.
It has universities and businesses and is largely peaceful, compared to the violence and terror in the north, where Islamic extremists continue to cause havoc, even attempting to scupper the Somaliland election.
Now it has also had what international observers recognised as free and fair elections.
Last month the Somali community in Cardiff were celebrating as Muse Bihi Abdi was elected president in elections part-funded by the European Union and the UK, and overseen by international observers.
The new president is from the Kulmiye party, a party which supports the free market and women’s rights, and is the one which the majority of Welsh-Somalis support.
Even before the elections Somaliland was considered one of east Africa’s best-functioning and most stable democracies.
Now, as its Welsh-Somali supporters say, it has proved itself as a good place from which to build stability in a somewhat troubled region.
Cardiff council became the second British council to recognise Somaliland as a country two years ago and Welsh Somali lobbyists would like the Welsh Government to do the same. But it, too, is hampered in this by another government, even if it wanted to.
Responding to the Welsh Somalis’ call, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Wales has had a community that hails from Somaliland for over 100 years and we very much value the contribution that it has made and continues to make to our society.
“However, as recognition of what is or is not a nation state is not a devolved matter, this is an issue for the UK Government.”
So the lobbyists will have to continue pressing Westminster.
Faisal Isa, secretary of Cardiff ’s branch of the Kulmiye party, is frustrated. He says the international community said Somaliland had to have free and fair elections to be recognised and now it has done that, the world should respond.
He points out it is in the world’s interests to respond. Somaliland could be an important haven of peace and prosperity, vital points in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
“Many people who voted for Brexit will recognise why Somaliland wants to be separate and run its own affairs,” he says.
The issues, while not really the same at all, both hinge on having vast bureaucracies making it harder and slower to make improvements, he points out. And both sides are at loggerheads as to how best to create a sound economy.
If Somaliland is not allowed to forge ahead as a country in its own right, with the benefits that brings, its economy will continue to suffer and young people may become frustrated and turn to extremist groups, Faisal fears.
Kensi Moussa Hayan, vice-chair of the women’s section of the Kulmiye party in Cardiff and Eid Ali Ahmed, who came to Wales as a refugee after helping topple Somali dictator Siad Barre, say it is hard to get the world’s attention for a matter that could help address pressing international issues such as the migrant crisis, terrorism and Africa’s economy.
Wales’ Somali population is not large – official figures from the 2011 Census show there are 1,327 people describing themselves as Somali or Somalilander here – but it is the biggest Somali community outside London.
The community, and some researchers, say the figure is closer to between 7,000 and 10,000, with some families now in the fourth generation.
Some of them, along with other people in Wales, may think Somaliland’s election last month has little to do with them.
But from acorns oaks grow. If a small, relatively peaceful and prosperous self-declared country in Africa is internationally recognised, its success and example just might ripple out.
Unrest and failing economies across the world can and do affect us all. Brexit, terrorism and the migrant crisis have shown us that.