Recognise Somaliland!!!

Somaliland is a former British protectorate in the East coast of Africa that shares borders with Somalia, Djibouti and Ethiopia. It was granted independence on 26th June 1960 and shortly after entered in union with neighbouring Somalia.

From there, the union turned out to be disastrous for Somaliland and it's citizens who were subjected to unfair and unjust practices by the nation it united with culminating in a brutal genocide of Somalilanders with some 500,000 civilians being killed in campaign of indiscriminate air bombardments (carefully disguised from the world) and by other similar cowardly acts employed by the regime. A regime which was headed and dominated by brutal characters that hailed from south Somalia, the former Italian colony Somaliland united with. Almost every Somalilander that managed to survive this terrible ordeal became a refugee at the time and all the major cities of Somaliland like Burco, Hargeisa, Berbera, Erigavo where flattened to the ground and became empty ghost towns with just rubble from the destruction remaining and every survivor fledding to neighbouring Ethiopia or beyond.

This prompted an organisation called the Somali National movement (SNM), composed of Somalilanders, to carry out an armed struggle against the brutal regime. Fortunately, they succeeded in toppling the brutal oppressors and in May 1991, Somaliland withdrew from the union with Somalia and declared restoration of it's sovereignty.

Since that time, a UN observed referendum which saw 97% of the population expressing support for an independent Somaliland was held. A civilian government made, a constitution drafted, democratic elections were held, Somaliland's economy has seen a year on year growth and the country has been making progress which hasn't gone unnoticed by the international community who acknowledge it with titles such as "Africa's best kept secret" amongst others.

Sadly though, the international community so far fails to grant Somaliland the full de jure diplomatic recognition that it's rightfully entitled to since Somaliland is a nation that chooses to restore its sovereignty after withdrawing from a bad union.

It's therefore imperative that bodies like the UN and the African union to respond appropriately and take a leading role in rectifying this injustice against Somaliland and its people who want to leap forward but are being hampered by the lack of recognition.

So please sign the petition and help Somaliland get the justice and response it deserves from the rest of the world.

Thank you for your favourable responses and Long live Somaliland, democracy, freedom and all the ideals it stands for.