Somaliland

“Somaliland’s self-proclamation of independence in May 1991 came after 10 long years of a bloody struggle against social and political injustices. Long before the 1980s, political and social demands were already shaping virtually all social, cultural and economic sectors in Somaliland since the Union of the British Protectorate of Somaliland and Italian Somalia in 1960. But the country’s situation deteriorated under the military regime, which came to power in 1969. The junta in power committed grave human rights violations against the people of Somaliland, particularly throughout the 80s during the internal armed conflict. By May 1988, Somaliland was completely destroyed and virtually all its 4 million population fled the country. This snapshot view does not do justice to the complexity of Somaliland’s recent history. But against the backdrop of this crisis, the country started its long march toward socio-economic progress and political stability. After over 30 years, Somaliland has comparatively made great strides in my many areas, including in the fields of rule of law and the fight against environmental degradation through the elaboration of environmental laws and policies. These developments have provided the populations the ability to participate in the elaboration of public policies and the power of having some degree of ownership of the political process.”

“Droughts come periodically in the region, putting tremendous pressure on the environment and the populations, and diminishing crop production – a serious cause of poverty, especially in rural areas. One of the major challenges is how to maintain some form of stability when dealing with a variable climate. At the local level, regional entities face considerable challenges in crafting actionable common environmental awareness strategies and policies.”

“In my opinion, the country should focus on three interconnected objectives: sustainable development, environmental management and fair trade.”

“Quickly, sustainable development does not reduce economic growth. It encompasses wider realities such as environmental degradation, social justice, poverty and participation in the political process (including women’s participation). We cannot afford to overlook environmental issues in our contemporary societies. We may disagree on what constitutes the most pressing environmental crisis, but there’s a global consensus that we are facing common problems in terms of soil degradation, climate change, declining biodiversity and pollution just to name a few. Finally, fair trade should be a tool against the deepening of inequality so long as it does not generate new forms of inequality or patronage.”

“Through Boswellness, we are truly happy and honoured to work on sustainable development in Somaliland with you all from all over the world! I feel confident about the opportunity of continuing and expanding this work, because I have the experience of crafting and implementing these kinds of projects for farmers and small villages. I honestly believe that sustainable development schemes will significantly contribute to better interactions between human beings and the environment as well as the country’s political stability. Thank you for being a part of this journey.”