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In breakaway Somaliland, a bid to be stable regional citizen
HARGEISA, SOMALIA - It might surprise you to learn that Somalia -- that post-apocalyptic shell of a nation where Islamist insurgents, clan warlords, and now pirates hold sway over a helpless government -- has some nice parts, too. In Hargeisa, a visitor can walk the asphalt roads at dusk and freely breathe the sharp mountain air. The street markets are busy and boisterous, and hanging out there isn't likely to get you killed. Cellphone companies advertise mobile Internet service and the good hotels have wireless hot spots.If this doesn't feel like Somalia, residents say that's because it's not. This is Somaliland, a northern former British protectorate that broke away from chaotic southern Somalia in 1991, established an admirably stable government, and hoped never to look back. No country has recognized Somaliland's independence, however. The argument has always been that to do so would further destabilize Somalia, even as Somalia seems to be destabilizing well enough on its own. So for now, this quiet slice of land along the volatile Gulf of Aden is an undeniable, if very reluctant, piece of Somalia. Posted by: Steve White 2009-05-15 |
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