Gulaid Yusuf Idaan

The world did not consider whether you fulfilled or the LEGAL CASE of statehood, which are: 1. A permanent population The Republic of Somaliland has a population of approximately 3.5 million. Its capital Hargeisa has a permanent estimated at 1.1 million. The nomadic nature of many of Somaliland’s inhabitants, and the consequent flow of the population in and out of the territory, has no impact on the legal definition of permanent population. 2. A defined territory The British protectorate established clearly defined borders for Somaliland by treaties in the 19th century. These borders were confirmed upon Somaliland’s declaration of independence in 1960. The contestation of the eastern border does not invalidate statehood. 3. Effective government Somaliland has a central government which exercises effective control over the majority of its territory. It has held internationally recognized free and fair election, most recently in June 2010, and has effective government institutions ...

THE LEGAL CASE Historical case Somaliland’s claim for independence is based primarily on historical title – its separate colonial history, a brief period of independence in 1960, the fact that it voluntarily entered into its unhappy union with Somalia and the questionable legitimacy of the 1960 Act of Union. Somaliland’s independence restores the colonial borders of the former British Protectorate of Somaliland and therefore does not violate the principle of uti possidetis – that former colonial borders should be maintained upon independence – which is enshrined in the Consultative Act of the African Union. The separation of fused states into their former territories has precedents in Africa: Egypt and Syria were joined as the United Arab Republic (1958 – 1971). Senegal and Mali were united as the Fédération du Mali (1959 – 1960). Senegal and Gambia were merged in the Sénégambia Confederation (1982 – 1989). Eritrea officially separated from Ethiopia in 1993. Britain granted and recogn...