Trivia
How many member states are in the African Union?
55
What happened to British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland in 1960?
They became independent and voluntarily merged to form the Somali Republic.
What 3 countries border Somaliland?
Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia
When did Somaliland declare independence?
1991
Name at least three elements of a sovereign state that Somaliland possesses.
has a constitution, prints its own currency, maintains an army, holds direct elections; has a permanent population, defined territory, a government not under another, capacity to interact with other sovereign states
How could recognition cause internal instability in Somaliland?
It would get rid of their motivation for stability. The power and privileges afforded to the government as an independent state would also incentivize infighting.
Who is the president of Somaliland?
Muse Bihi Abdi
Why did the Somali National Movement oust President Siad Barre and declare Somaliland's independence in 1991?
Siad Barre was an oppressive dictator who committed human rights abuses against political opponents
Why is Somaliland important to anti-piracy efforts, and how would recognition boost these efforts?
Somaliland's democracy has allowed for cooperation between communities and authorities, which helps to prevent piracy. Recognition would boost Somaliland's economy, providing more resources for anti-piracy efforts.
Define "territorial sovereignty" and describe its relevance in the debate.
Territorial sovereignty is the exclusive control and authority that a ruler or state holds over a defined geographical area. Recognizing Somaliland would threaten Somalia's territorial sovereignty.
What are the capitals of Somaliland and Somalia?
Hargeisa and Mogadishu
When was Somaliland's new constitution approved, and what major changes did it make?
2001; it affirmed Somaliland's self-declared independence and transitioned from a power-sharing agreement among leading clans to a multi-party democracy
How would recognizing Somaliland as an independent state help their economy?
It would give them access to international loans and expand their opportunities for foreign trade and investment.
How could you use the Ethiopia-Somaliland MOU to prove that recognition would cause regional instability?
Somalia viewed the MOU as a denial of their territorial sovereignty, and many groups responded with anger. The negative response would be even greater if the AU were to officially recognize Somaliland.
Name two of the five major Somali clans.
Dir, Isaaq, Darood, Hawiye, Rahanweyn
In January 2024, Ethiopia and Somaliland signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). What did it do and why did Somalia describe it as an act of "aggression"?
The MOU granted Ethiopian naval forces access to 20km of Somaliland's coastline, and Ethiopia agreed to consider recognizing Somaliland's independence. Somalia saw the agreement as a denial of their territorial sovereignty.
How would recognizing Somaliland help to combat terrorism?
Recognition would boost their economy, allowing them to devote more resources to anti-piracy/anti-terrorism efforts. It would also reduce unemployment, thus reducing vulnerability to recruitment.
How could recognition destabilize the African continent?
Recognizing Somaliland's would encourage and embolden other secessionist movements, spurring a wave of instability.