 
Historical Background
In
the colonial period Africa was divided along artificial lines.
Ethnic groups and clans were broken into fragments and
multi-racial states were formed.
Against this backdrop, the Somali people - the second largest ethnic
group in the Horn of Africa - cultivated the dream of racial and
national unity. The first
step of the Somalis towards independence came with the birth of
Somaliland (north) on 26 June 1960, followed by the birth of Somalia
(south) four days later. The
two states were well distinguished and separated, one with its capital
in Hargeisa and the other in Mogadishu.
However, inspired by nationalistic aspirations and emotion, the
two states united on 1 July 1960, forming the Somali Republic with its
capital in Mogadishu.
Unfortunately, the union was doomed from the start:
the Somali Republic was formed without the ratification of the
Act of Union by Somaliland. Despite this rejection by Somaliland, the union was forced
upon the Northern Somalis by the central government which had its
roots in the southern part of the country.
(The Capital, the President, the Prime Minister, the absolute
majority in the cabinet and in the Parliament, the head of the armed
forces and that of the police were all from the South.)
Those who supported the union did not comply with the
referendum called in 1961 for a national constitution, and military
officers from the north attempted a coup later that year.
This provoked the decision by the central government to
transfer all the native army commanders and executives from the North.
From that day on the concept of equality was lost and the North
was effectively under the occupation of the South.
When General Said Barre rose to power in 1969 international aid and
national economic development programs were focused on the South and
the Northerners were treated as second class citizens. Even Djibouti chose to remain a sovereign state after its
independence in 1977, and not to participate in the project of Greater
Somalia due in large part to its awareness of the gloomy experience in
Somaliland.
In 1981, the Somali National Movement (SNM) took up arms against the
central government. The
reaction of Mogadishu was savage.
The major towns in the North were brutally bombarded and looted
(Hargeisa was reduced to ruins), and the majority of the population in
the North fled to Ethiopia to escape genocide.
By then the North had become essentially a vast military
minefield populated by ghost towns.
Finally, in May 1991, after the overthrow of Said Barre, the SNM
declared the rebirth of the Republic of Somaliland. Political/Economic
Situation The SNM established an interim government of two years following aims and objectives:
Thus far the fledgling republic has been plagued by internecine
fighting, and the general war in Somalia is creating havoc within the
country. At present,
there is no diplomatic representation whatsoever in the country; not
one single country has afforded diplomatic recognition to Somaliland.
The closest source of information on the country is the U.S.
Embassy in Djibouti, which follows events and reports directly back to
the State Department.
The internal conflict is principally between the Issaq and Gadabursi
tribes. The actual
president is a man named Abdurahim Tur, an Issaq.
He has been accused by the rest of the SNM council as being an
ineffective leader and the cause of the country's present problems.
Tur allegedly appointed Ministers and other officials but gave
them no clear sense of direction and purpose, resulting in a lack of
cohesion and credibility for the government.
Out of the government's 17 cabinet posts, no less than 11 are held by
Issaqs. All key
portfolios like Foreign Affairs, Defense and Interior, are held by
Issaqs. This situation has naturally created resentment among the
minority Gadabursi tribe, and has contributed to the present conflict.
Although a majority of SNM Council members, religious leaders and clan
elders want Tur to step down, they have not yet confronted him with a
demand for his resignation for fear of aggravating the situation.
No senior officials of the U.S. have visited the country since
independence was declared. Exploration
Activities and Foreign
Investment
Some American companies are now operating in Northern Somalia.
One of them, a mine removing firm called "Rimfire" is
working with the UNHCR. Its
project is funded by the UN/EEC and USAID, with a U.S. contribution of
around US$10 million. The
company is, however, unable to move much of its expensive equipment
into the country due to the current security situation.
Another company, "Turn-Key Water," specializes in water well
drilling and is working for UNICEF.
At present, there is an American oil company (NFI) prospecting for oil
at a place called Rabako on the Ethiopian side of the border.
The company is conducting seismic tests and intends to extend
its operations to Burhar in Northern Somalia when circumstances
permit.
It is believed that oil and various mineral deposits exist in the
Burhar area of Somalia. Burhar
is strategically located between Berbera and Zeila ports in Northern
Somalia and could be an ideal base from which to operate.
It has an adequate infrastructure, and is convenient for oil
shipments from Ethiopia, should this materialize.
In fact, a refinery was in the process of being built in Burhar
until circumstances forced its stoppage.
The UN has announced a US$12 million donation to help the displaced
and starving in Somalia, but the plan sits far from reality in
Mogadishu, unable to even start until a cease-fire is in place.
Other
American oil companies looking at Somalia include Mobil, Shell, DuPont
and Philips. The latter
is planning to drill a key exploratory well in Somalia during 1991. |
© 1995 - 2009 CTC International Group, Inc.
