The Political Development of Somaliland and Its Conflict with Puntland
The political development of Somaliland and its conflict with Puntland 5 INTRODUCTION a total population of about three million people in 1997. Pastoralists make up some 55 per cent of the population, The Horn of Africa is the most militarised and conflict- whereas the rest is composed of urban and rural dwell- ridden region on the African continent, with armed ers. Territorially Somaliland is divided into six regions, conflicts raging frequently within and between states. namely Northwest, Awdal, Sahil, Togdheer, Sanaag and In 1991, Somaliland emerged as an autonomous entity Sool, which are subdivided into 30 districts. The largest in this turbulent region after unilaterally declaring its city and capital of Somaliland is Hargeisa to which independence from the rest of Somalia. Over the past Britain relocated its colonial administration in 1941, eighteen years Somaliland has managed to display an en- while Boroma, Berbera, Burao, Erigavo and Las-Canood viable measure of peace and stability. Through successive are Somaliland’s major cities. Somaliland’s principal port clan conferences, Somaliland established relatively viable is the strategic port of Berbera.6 institutions which paved the path for reconstruction of an There are three major clan families, namely the entity mainly employing local resources. Somaliland has Isaaq, the Darod/Harti (including the Warsangeli thus been depicted as ‘an oasis of stability in an otherwise and Dhulbahante) and the Dir (including the Iise and chaotic Somali regional environment’.1 The accomplish- Gadabursi), representing 66 per cent, 19 per cent and 15 ments of Somaliland, however, have been overshadowed per cent respectively of the total population.7 Pertaining by the lack of international recognition of its statehood to regional distribution, the west is inhabited by the Iise and also its territorial dispute with neighbouring and Gadabursi clans.8 The Isaaq live predominantly in Puntland.
[Show full text]