Petition to recognize the independence of the Republic of Somaliland

To Hon. Mr. Ban Ki-moon. Secretary-General of the United Nations

Dear Sir;

The present petition is aimed at the recognition of the independence of the Republic of Somaliland, and its integration in the United Nations as a full member.

Since 1990, the Republic of Somalia has descended into chaos and anarchy, creating a totally failed country, without any working institutions, despite several attempts by the international communities to stabilize it.

For more than 15 years, the Republic of Somaliland has chosen a different path, by seceding and declaring its independence.

Historically, the Republic of Somaliland has its reasons not to be identified with the Republic of Somalia.

But this is not the main reason it is different and deserves to be recognized: it simply chose the path of peace and democracy, and has chosen not to destroy itself by massacre, civil war, anarchy, warlords, banditry, famine, starvation, desperation and total destruction of the institutions experimented with in neighbouring Somalia.

Instead of appreciating the effort of Somaliland to build a modern and peaceful democracy, the international communities have shamefully refused to recognize its independence, denying de facto any help to the country, which is struggling beside the terrible failed country of Somalia and the brutal dictatorship of Eritrea, with great difficulties due to droughts, floods, bad harvests, etc….

If there is an African country which deserves to be praised for its accomplishments, despite the terrible environment surrounding it, it is Somaliland.

What reason can the United Nations give for not recognizing the independence of this territory? Are its efforts to compromise, to be peaceful and democratic, reasons to be punished and denied even the right to exist ?

I urge the Hon. Secretary of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-moon, to take urgently into consideration a change of these policies and to recognize immediately the independence of the Republic of Somaliland, whose re-union with the failed Republic of Somalia is clearly no longer possible, after 18 years of useless chaos and terror.

Please, help peace and democracy prevail and prevent war, bloodshed, terror, repression, death, starvation and famine from taking more of the African territory.

Yours sincerely