Viva Independent British Somaliland!
By Prof. Nassir Hussein Kahin, Political Analyst, International Affairs Writer and, Executive Managing Editor, Bridgingsomaliland.
The winds of change are blowing through the Horn of Africa—and Somaliland is at the eye of the storm.
The likely revival of the MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland, now with renewed momentum under President Ciro, offers unprecedented opportunities. Access to the Red Sea for Ethiopia in exchange for diplomatic recognition could be the golden key Somaliland has long sought. But it also comes with immense risks.
Ethiopia, though diplomatically isolated in some circles, remains a regional juggernaut with long-standing ambitions. The new MoU must be scrutinized with surgical precision. Somaliland’s leaders must ensure the treaty is not a Trojan horse for territorial encroachment or indirect sovereignty dilution.
This means iron-clad language within the agreement that:
1. Asserts Somaliland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity;
2. Designates Ethiopia as a tenant, not an owner—with clear terms akin to a guest in a rented house;
3. Establishes third-party witnesses such as the U.S. and UAE, who will guarantee enforcement and intervene in case of disputes.
Let it be remembered: empires do not expand with armies alone; they do so with ambiguous treaties and infrastructure deals.
This is not a moment for naivety. Somaliland stands at the threshold of international legitimacy, but one misstep could entangle it in decades of compromise. President Ciro and his administration must negotiate with strength, clarity, and strategic wisdom.
Recognition is no longer a dream—it is within reach. But as history has shown, every blessing can become a curse if the terms are not set right from the start.
Somaliland deserves restoration of its de jure recognition not as a subordinate gateway, but as a sovereign partner.
Let the fine print reflect that.
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