Dropping the Ball? US Policy Towards Somaliland
By Scott A Morgan
Currently the main focal point regarding US Interests towards
Somalia just happens to be Piracy. A Close second just happens to be
restoring a functioning Centralized Government. But there is one
group that has been reaching out to Washington but it is apparent
that the reply is Silence.
Since the collapse of the last Somali Government back in 1991 the
country has been plagued by Anarchy. Several Attempts to restore
order have failed. On more than one occasion Ethiopian Forces have
been introduced into the situation in a vain attempt to restore law
and order. At this time the neighboring country is pulling out its
forces.
Unlike Puntland and the Area around the Capital Mogadishu the Region
known as Somaliland has been relatively peaceful. A previous attempt
by a Transitional Government saw the Regional Capital Hargeysa
attacked by the pro-Government Militias. Since that time this
particular region has prospered economically.
Unlike the rest of the impoverished and decimated parts of Somalia
reports indicate that the Country has not been a source of or
targets of the piracy that plagues the Gulf of Aden. French Special
Forces used the former US Naval Base at Berbera to launch a
successful rescue mission on a hijacked luxury yacht.
In 2007 the President of Somaliland and his Prime Minister made a
visit to the United States. They were attempting to get the United
States to determine that Somaliland was an independent state and to
send Financial and Military Aid as well. In 2008 the US
Undersecretary of State for African Affairs paid a visit to the
Somaliland Capital and that is the last we have heard of any
contact.
So why should the US be interested in this? First of all there are
Elections scheduled to take place during the first part of this
year. The Fact that democratic elections will be taking place and
that they are multi-party elections should be heralded inside the
beltway. The Registering of independent political parties should
also garner the interest of both the IRI (International Republican
Institute) and the NDI (National Democratic Institute.)
This Electoral Cycle in what has the potential to be an emerging
Democratic State in a Region that is plagued by Islamist radicals
has to be taken at face value. The Defense Department is currently
the only part of the Government that has any contact with the
Somaliland Government. So this factor could lead to attacks by those
who have sympathy to Al-Qaida.
What has to be an area of concern is what appears to be a lack of
movement by the Bush Administration. Why no action regarding any
potential contact has been taken in 10 months is mind-boggling. This
however could become a viable solution when/if it is determined that
supporting the Transitional Government in Baidoa is a Fool’s Errand.
It is believed that the situation in Somalia will be one of the
first Foreign Policy tests for the incoming Obama Administration. I
pray that He passes this one.
The Author publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet and comments on
US policy towards Africa. Confused Eagle is at
morganrights.tripod.com
Scott A Morgan
Editor Confused Eagle
morganrights.tripod.com
|