In the Horn of Africa—long synonymous with instability—one region has defied expectations. Somaliland, a self-governing state since 1991, remains unrecognized by the international community. This is not an accident. It is an injustice.

The world continues to allow Somalia, a nation that committed genocide against Somalilanders, to represent them on the global stage. Worse still, Somaliland is penalized for its success while its former oppressor enjoys diplomatic legitimacy.

It is time to correct this historical wrong. It is time to recognize Somaliland’s independence.

A Nation That Survived Genocide

Between 1987 and 1989, the Siad Barre regime waged a brutal campaign against the people of Somaliland, particularly in the capital, Hargeisa. According to reports by Africa Watch and Human Rights Watch, more than 50,000 people were killed. Some estimates place the death toll at over 100,000. The Somali government orchestrated aerial bombardments, mass executions, and systematic persecution in an attempt to annihilate the Isaaq clan—the backbone of Somaliland society. This was not mere repression; it was genocide.

And yet, today, Somalia still claims sovereignty over Somaliland.

By refusing to recognize Somaliland’s independence, the international community forces its people to accept representation by a state that once sought to destroy them. Would the world have accepted Nazi Germany speaking for Poland after World War II? Would Rwanda have been asked to let génocidaires represent them? The status quo is a moral absurdity.

Why Should Somalia Represent Somalilanders?

Somalia ranks among the most fragile states on earth, topping the 2024 Fragile States Index. For more than three decades, it has been plagued by civil war, insurgency, piracy, and political dysfunction. Somaliland, by contrast, has built a functioning democracy with regular elections, a stable government, and no significant internal conflict.

Yet at the United Nations, the African Union, and other global forums, Somalia is allowed to speak on behalf of Somalilanders. If the people of Somaliland overwhelmingly reject Somali rule, why should Mogadishu be allowed to claim them?

Somaliland has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to independence. In a 2001 referendum, 97% of voters supported sovereignty, a result validated by independent observers. If democracy means anything, their voices should matter.

Self-Determination is a Fundamental Right

The right to self-determination is enshrined in international law. The United Nations Charter explicitly recognizes the right of people to determine their political status.

Somaliland, which voluntarily united with Somalia in 1960 before breaking away in the wake of genocide, has every legal and moral right to govern itself. Opponents argue that recognizing Somaliland would encourage a wave of separatism across Africa. This fear-based reasoning ignores two key facts: Somaliland is not a newly formed state. It was a British protectorate that gained independence in 1960 before mistakenly choosing to unite with Somalia. Also, recognizing Somaliland would not set a dangerous precedent—it would affirm the right of a historically distinct, democratically governed state to self-rule.

To withhold recognition from Somaliland is to punish success. If stability, democracy, and economic progress disqualify a nation from independence, what incentive remains for good governance?

The Cost of Delay

Somalia is wholly dependent on foreign aid, lacks effective governance, and struggles with terrorism. Somaliland, meanwhile, is self-sufficient, democratically governed, and home to the emerging port city of Berbera—a vital regional trading hub.

And it has achieved all of this without international recognition. Imagine what could be accomplished with full diplomatic legitimacy and access to global financial institutions.

But the longer recognition is delayed, the steeper the cost. Without official status, Somaliland is excluded from international development funding, trade agreements, and security partnerships. Its potential is stifled—not by internal failures but by the global community’s reluctance to act.

Why is the World Ignoring Somaliland?

Many nations fear that recognizing Somaliland would provoke Somalia or disrupt Africa’s colonial-era borders. But fear is a poor justification for injustice.

Once, European powers claimed that granting independence to African nations would lead to chaos. That argument, too, was rooted in self-interest rather than principle. Today, the refusal to recognize Somaliland follows the same flawed logic.

If the world values democracy, stability, and justice, it must acknowledge Somaliland’s sovereignty. Otherwise, it rewards a failed state—Somalia—while punishing Somaliland for its remarkable success.