Somaliland: a peaceful place (catch all)

For too long the other Somali homeland has had too little attention, even though it is peaceful, democratic and rarely relies on external support - compared to the US$ billions, blood and time the "international community" has given to Somalia.

So prompted by a BBC radio report here are a few aspects you probably missed. The BBC found local children's favourite book was Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' :http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01ggtb7

Along with some pictures:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23820941

I have finally found this 'letter' in The Spectator on the Hargeysa or Hargeisa International Book Fair by the BBC's reporter:http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/...om-somaliland/

An update on Somaliland by a WoTR writer, although I fear England's eigth largest city recognising its independence will not lead to nations following them.

I like this passage:

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An official from the region’s interior ministry expressed this very sentiment to me: “you invaded Iraq to bring democracy and security, so why won’t you recognize our independence when we’ve already built democracy and security ourselves?”

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Link:http://warontherocks.com/2014/04/fix...ition-problem/

And another Emirati base is about to emerge on the Horn of Africa, this time in Somaliland:

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Somalia's breakaway northern territory of Somaliland has said the United Arab Emirates can establish a military base in its territory.

The Emirati government in January submitted a formal application seeking permission from the Somaliland government to open a military base in the port town of Berbera.

The parliament of Somaliland on Sunday approved the UAE plan. The plan is controversial and the neighboring countries of Ethiopia and Djibouti are opposed to it, according to local reports.

In Sunday's vote 144 lawmakers were in favor of the military base, two voted against and two abstained. Nine others opposed to the base shouted against President Ahmed Silanyo and were led out of the chamber by soldiers. Silanyo had spoken in favor of the base, saying it would create jobs in Somaliland.

The UAE government is planning to establish a naval base with warships that would be used to attack Shia Houthi fighters fighting the government in Yemen, according to a Somaliland official who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press.

Speaking at the parliament session, Somaliland's president said that the military base would benefit Somaliland most and help create jobs.

The plan follows a multimillion dollar, 30-year contract for UAE's international ports operator, DP World, to manage Somaliland's largest port, Berbera.
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What DailyStar missed is that the purpose of the same will be for the Emiratis to fight the AQAP in Yemen, though.

An article lauding and explaining why Somaliland is a success story and starts with:

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Meanwhile, in Somaliland – north of Somalia, East Africa – Somalilanders, quietly and confidently, continued concretizing their own statehood dreams: over the last few months, Somaliland has organised its third presidential election, which took place on November 13, demonstrating the strength of its electoral, multi-party and hybrid political system.

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Link:https://www.opendemocracy.net/cecili...of-somaliland?

A 'Long Read' article that is an up to date description of this quietly successful country that no-one will recognise.
Link:https://www.theguardian.com/news/201...f-independence