Boundaries issue in africa are one of the most sensitive issues in the last century among the african nations and the others who are interesting for africa’s developement!!
There is still a long lasting disputes about this issue and sti
ll many african countries are striving for reclaiming their or new territories.
But when it comes to here we must recall that; following the infamous berlin conference in 1884-1885, africa was divided up among the europian colonial powers of that day. This resulted in artificial division of boundaries by cutting across tribal,linguistic, and religious groupings.
At the time of indepedence, africa inherited the colonial geographic structure whose state frontiers cut across many tribes.
This gave rise to boder dispute, claims and counter-claims which threatened the very existance of the new nations and was detrimental to african unity.
As a result , african states suffered loss of life, destruction of property and retardation of much needed economic developement.
To cite few examples there were boundry conflicts of considerable magnitude between Algeria and Morroco in 1964-1965, between Ethopia and Somalia in 1977’s, between kenya and somalia in 1967 and currently the latest disputes were among sudan and southern sudan, which had been resolved for succession in years back and between somaliland and somalia which still a flaming fire in the horn of africa.
These two nations had united in 1960 four days later when somalia has gotten its indepedence from italy, where somaliland has gotten its indepedence from britian four days earlier somalia. But still they are arguing between seperation and union.
Although somaliland had already claimed that it has broken away from somalia in 1991 but still somalia and the international world are taking their eyes out of this issue, where somaliland is arguing about that it has been a peace for the last twenty four years with the election of 4 presidents in that 24 years were one of them had been re-elected. By the way, when one considers the history of the boundaries in africa , there can hardly be any african in whose jurisdiction minorities from neighbouring states do not reside.
It is in recognition of this fact and with the view to ensuring peace and stability in africa, that the founding fathers of africa union in their collective wisdom committed that” every nation in africa should respect the frontiers of others as they existed at the time of indepidence”.
Becouse if africa begins to reshape its borders according to: ethnic, linguistic, religious and cultural criteria, africa will not have fifty countries but hunderds of tribal states and if such situation is allowed it may result in non ending tribal wars, and chaos same as today in many african countries.
Hence, when it comes to this scenario many people may ask why somaliland is therefor advocating for regaining of its indepedence from somalia since this circumstances may emerge from it? But accordingly this is not the same scenario becouse somaliland is not a new nation but rather it is a nation which had been given to its indepedence in 26 june 1960 and recognized by at that time more than 33 nations dispersed in the world.
It is a nation which united to a country called somalia which was 4 days younger than it according to indepedence regaining.
It was a nation having its own boundaries before it united to somalia.
It was a nation having its own flag and parliament when it was uniting with somalia and not only that it was also a country which had no an officially agreement or documented paper with their counterpart during the union. By the way according to the african union charter of boundaries somaliland has the right to be respected as a nation becouse article #six says”solemnly declares that all member states pledge themselves to respect the boundariesexisting on their achievement of national indepedence” hence, according to this somaliland has the right to be respected as an indepedent nation in the horn.
Not only this somaliland is:
A Stable nation for the last 24years where somalia is in an endless chaos.
It had elected its successive presidents democratically and peacefully.
It has its own currency,flag, councils, army forces,ports, well secure boundaries and all infrastructures needed by a nation.
It is well also a free pirate zone.
Free of extremist and so on.
So that, according to this perspective somaliland is expecting a mercy full eye from the international community so as to not influenced by the violences occuring the horn.
If it recognized it will be meaningfull to the world and the horn since it a flexible nation.
Written by: Mohamed Abdilaahi Biihi.
Medical student.
Addis-ababa, ethopia.
