Open Letter for Taking Canada-Somaliland Relations to the Next Level

May 18, 2022

Somaliland Canadian Congress

Somaliland is a beacon of democracy in the Horn of Africa, a region otherwise marked with instability in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. Somaliland’s recognition is just a matter of time and we need Canada’s contribution to make it happen.

In fact, Canada's close partners and allies such as the United States and the United Kingdom have reinvigorated their support and interests in Somaliland. For instance, as recent as January 18, 2022, the UK Parliament held a debate on UK Government Recognition of Somaliland. Our American neighbours, for their part, sent U.S Armey General Stephen Townsend, head of U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Ambassador Larry E. André, Jr. to meet Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi in Hargeisa on May 12, 2022. This comes after the recent visit of President Muse Bihi Abdi on March 15, 2022 in Washington D.C and the visit form a high-level US Congress Staff delegation in Somaliland on December 13, 2021. Taiwan has sealed a bilateral relations deal with Somaliland, opening the door for Taiwanese investment and assistance and allowing both territories to open representative offices in each other's capitals. Logic has it that, Canada, our very own country, needs to join these allies and support Somaliland.

Somaliland has a defined territory with a permanent population and capacity to enter into relations with other states. It has its own currency, banking system, legal system, flag, parliament and national identity. The reality is that Somaliland is a safe and democratic country that is willing to engage in fair and mutually respectful relations with the rest of the world to secure a sustainable development for its population.

So far, Somaliland has been standing on its own for longer than the 30 years it has suffered under the genocidal regime of Siad Barre's "Somali Democratic Republic". On May 18, 2022, Somaliland is celebrating its 31 years of independence. South of its border, in unstable Somalia, the 10th presidential election was held in an obscure, tribal-based manner that is more reminiscent of the feudal system in Europe’s medieval times than anything else we have seen in modern democracies. By contrast, Somaliland has been and continues to be shining light of democracy. Somaliland’s 2021 dual elections in the Parliament and Regional Councils were held on the basis of "one-person, one-vote" and has seen the use of biometric technology, a first in the Horn of Africa to say the least.

In Canada, the Somaliland's community is a vibrant fabric of the Canadian society at all levels. From the academia to top athletes, from successful business men and women to grass-root community volunteers, not to mention senior leaders in the municipal, provincial and federal public service, Canadian-Somalilanders are proud contributors to the success of this beautiful country, Canada. The maple flag and our fellow Canadians have welcomed us in 1988-1991 at a time we were living our darkest moments in our Somaliland history, at a time when the genocidal oppression of Somalia towards us was at its highest point. All these years, we have supported Canada’s democracy and its political functioning and economic prosperity with our most fundamental right, our votes, and our hard-earned incomes. Now it is time that Canada supports us in standing with Somaliland in its efforts for re-gaining the international recognition it once received in 1960 and rejoining the Commonwealth of Nations.

In light of the turning point we are seeing in the Horn of Africa nowadays, and given the largely unexploited business opportunities in Somaliland, we would like Canada to reconsider its passive attitude towards Somaliland. If anything, the Ukraine invasion by Russia has shown the world that the values of democracy merit our most stanch support, and so does Somaliland.

In that vein and to take Canada-Somaliland relations to the next level, a first few steps can include the following:

• Open a direct diplomatic channel and establish a Canadian Liaison Office in Somaliland. This will facilitate any Canadian humanitarian aid to reach directly the people in need in Somaliland at a time when climate change is their biggest challenge. Besides, this office, similar to UK’s Liaison Office in Hargeisa, can facilitate Canada’s direct contribution to Somaliland’s development projects, in addition to advancing defense and security priorities in the Red Sea. Of note, the airport of Berbera has a 4,140 m (13,580 ft) runway, which is one of the longest on the African continent. This runway used to serve NASA as an emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle from 1980 to 1991.

• Develop trade opportunities between Canada and Somaliland. The port of Berbera in Somaliland is strategically located in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. It has recently attracted many international investors, including DP World, the Emirati multinational logistics company. In fact, Somaliland has untapped natural resources where Canada can lend its world-renowned expertise in industries such as oil and mining, mineral exploration and extraction, agriculture, fishing, etc.

• Facilitate ways on how Canada can ease remittance outflows to Somaliland. Experts in international money transfers have indicated that, globally, remittances sent home by migrant workers are estimated to be anywhere from three to four times the humanitarian aid flows. Implementing easier mechanisms in this area will tremendously help Canadian-Somalilanders in contributing to the development of their country of origin.

• Support Canada’s growing Somaliland diaspora in their many local initiatives (e.g., AKHRI-Mothers and Daughters Literacy) to help Somaliland in its progressive agenda on education, gender equality and health.

The above is not a definite list but it will certainly allow Canadian officials to get to know better and up-close Somaliland. Not to mention that these steps will help Canada-Somaliland relations flourish even further.