Independent Online
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Hargesia – Somalia’s breakaway enclave of Somaliland, briefly independent in 1960, called for recognition by the world community as an independent state.
“It is unfortunate to look for recognition today, 46 years after Somaliland got freedom and recognition,” President Dahir Rayale Kahin said at a banquet on Monday to mark independence day.
The former British protectorate was independent from June 26 to July 1, 1960, before joining the rest of Somalia.
Somaliland wanted to “realise its destiny and aspiration to join the free nations of the world”, he said.
Kahin has just concluded a 12-day tour of six African states to push for recognition of his country, which declared independence in 1991 after warlords toppled Somali’s military ruler Mohamed Siad Barre.
So far the world has withheld recognition, preferring the old colonial borders to avoid opening a Pandora’s box of secession conflicts.
Source: IOL, June 27, 2006
