Cyprus-Forum.com

[Expatkiwi]

Dean,the African Union is the reincarnation of the discredited 'Organisation of African Unity' - a dictator's club.It seems strange that the Defence Department wants the President of America to recognise Somaliland,yet the State Department is taking an obstructive stance.

Somaliland has been built up from scratch.You can find a link about Somaliland here; www.somalilandgov.com .

Somalia's a hell-hole like Zimbabwe is.

Aidan.

The US Military likes the idea of having a friendly nation on the coast of the Red Sea. So not only is that sea route under their eye, so are the neighboring countries bordering Somaliland. As I said, it is viewed as a strategic interest. However, the State Department is trying not to 'stop on other countries' toes' since Iraq.
Strategically, Somaliland would be a great ally to USA as it is a secular muslim nation looking for foreign support, and its in a location that is increasingly seen as a strategic location...

[BC Numismatics]

Dean,Somaliland has the potential to become the wealthiest country in Africa,as there is potentially a lot of oil in that area.Hargeisa could end up becoming east Africa's equivilant of London - a powerful financial centre.Somaliland could strengthen its ties with the Muslim-majority member states of the British Commonwealth such as Malaysia & the Maldive Islands,as,if & when Somaliland finally gains recognition,it would be invited to join the British Commonwealth.

Aidan.

[Expatkiwi]

The problem is that if the AU does not first recognize, any Western country that does so will be accused of being 'colonial', hence the kowtowing to the AU. State Department has this view.

[BC Numismatics]

Dean,Wales has effectively given tacit recognition to Somaliland.The invitation to a delegation from Somaliland to the recent British Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala,Uganda is a good sign that recognition of Somaliland by the British Commonwealth will occur some time in the next few years.I am already collecting Somaliland's banknotes & coins.

Aidan.

[Expatkiwi]

http://allafrica.com/stories/200712101818.html

The Somaliland recognition article is here

[BC Numismatics]

We will more than likely get the news of Kosovo's U.D.I. up on www.bbc.co.uk .

Aidan.

[Dave69]

Ladies and Gents,
I have been reading some of the threads in this forum about Kosovo, Somaliland, Taiwan and other places. To throw my two cents in, I have been following the news about the Horn of Africa and it completely changed my vision and view of Somaliland. Here are few things that I didn't know about Somaliland but I just discovered and these include:
-That Somaliland is ran by one clan (Isaq clan) and that they are the ones who fought against the dictator Siad Barre and they claim to have represent the whole Somaliland territories which i believed before but I have now learned that out of five regions the Isaq clan lives in two of them only and they call them the Republic of Somaliland;
-The other clans in Somaliland do not want to secede from Somalia and don't want to be part of Somaliland;
-One of the reasons that the international community don't want to recognize them is that they found out about this ugly reality when they examined the make up of Somaliland closely;
-Since the Somali politics is based on clans each would want to have their own State if the Isaq Somaliland gets recognized and that would open Pandora box in that region of Africa.

Any thoughts on these items,
Dave

[BC Numismatics]

Dave,the Isaaq are actually an ethnic group,not a clan.Somaliland has asserted its independence within its colonial borders,which is a reason why it should be granted both recognition as a legitimate country & full membership of the British Commonwealth.The Government of Somaliland sees itself as being the legal successor to the Government of the British Somaliland Protectorate & the short-lived State of Somaliland.

Somaliland is the only Somali-speaking state that has its own traditional monarchies,which are ruled by Sultans.

Here's an article about Somaliland; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somaliland .

I've always been sympathetic towards the Somalilanders,as they're very much part of the British Commonwealth family anyway.Somaliland,like Ireland,Zimbabwe (once Z.A.N.U.-P.F. are gone),& the Principality of Hutt River,has a right to British Commonwealth membership,whereas,Cameroon & Mozambique has no right to membership to our British Commonwealth.The idiots who are in favour of allowing Rwanda to join the British Commonwealth are brain-dead,as Rwanda was a colony of Belgium.

Aidan.

[boomerang]

Aidan you make me laugh with the Hutt bullshit...Cattle stations are larger than that...

Its a joke Aidan, and nothing more...

Can you go easy on this commonwealth crap...Who gives a shit about the British Empire's glory days?...The poms were assholes going around screwing people and when they left they made sure trouble arrived upon their departure...Screw your pommie thing...

long live Australia

[BC Numismatics]

Boomerang,the Principality of Hutt River is NOT a joke.It is a real country.You can have a read here; www.principality-hutt-river.com .

Yes,I've got the banknotes from there,plus a few coins & medal-coins as well.

Aidan.