Somaliland, a self-proclaimed nation in the Horn of Africa, prides itself on being a democratic state that holds regular elections and maintains stability in a tumultuous region. Subsequent Somaliland governments have intensified their attempts to gain global recognition by consistently emphasizing the region’s beneficial assets and unique position. However, human rights violations in Somaliland could undermine the region’s legitimacy case, perhaps hindering its ambitions to gain recognition from Western liberal democracies. This article highlights human rights violations in Somaliland, particularly restrictions on freedom of religion or belief and prolonged prison sentences imposed on gay men, which could potentially hinder the nation’s long-awaited recognition.
Somaliland unilaterally declared independence after the collapse of Somalia’s central government in 1991. Since then, Somaliland has sought global recognition, claiming that it meets all criteria for statehood outlined in the Montevideo Convention, including a population permanent, a defined territory and a functional government. , in addition to maintaining peace and effectively conducting regular democratic elections. Despite its compelling arguments, the international community has yet to support Somaliland’s demand for international recognition.
In recent weeks, however, reports have emerged suggesting that the incoming Trump administration may recognize Somaliland as an independent nation due to its strategic location along the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. In 2023, McPherson-Smith and Jendayi Frazer co-authored an article arguing that Somaliland met the four Kosovo conditions that resulted in US recognition of Kosovo. Their analysis concluded that the similarities between Somaliland and Kosovo justify the United States’ recognition of Somaliland’s independence. Additionally, Representative Scott Perry recently introduced a bill in the United States House of Representatives to recognize Somaliland as a state.
These speculations provoke a debate among Somalis, dividing separatists and unionists on the question of the potential international recognition of Somaliland. Proponents of unity argue that Somaliland is an essential part of Somalia, thus opposing any likelihood of independence. Particularly since the signing of the controversial Memorandum of Understanding between Somaliland and Ethiopia in January 2024, the Somali federal government views separatism as an existential threat to its sovereignty and security. Furthermore, different clans residing in Somaliland have different perspectives on separatism and statehood. The predominant Isaaq clan favors independence for Somaliland, although other notable clans, including the Dhulbahante, the Warsangeli and some segments of the Dir, have shown considerable hesitation.
While supporters of Somaliland independence remain optimistic about its potential recognition, it appears that any effort to promote it may face obstacles. Human rights violations and restrictions on fundamental freedoms, including freedom of opinion, expression and religion, could pose major obstacles to Somaliland’s quest for recognition by Western liberal democracies. As an individual who has been arrested for apostasy, it is my intention in this article to draw attention to the injustices perpetrated by the former Somaliland administration, particularly violations of freedom of religion or belief and extended prison sentences for homosexuals, which remain unaddressed. locally.
The documents of the International Bill of Human Rights collectively form the basic international legal framework protecting freedom of religion or belief, guaranteeing the right to choose, change and manifest one’s beliefs without coercion or discrimination, urging nations to resist such intolerance and to foster understanding and respect. for FoRB. Somaliland does not respect this essential human right. Somaliland’s Constitution is based on Islamic Sharia law and does not protect the rights of religious minorities. Article five of the Constitution of Somaliland declares Islam as the only recognized religion in the country and prohibits the promotion or practice of any other religion. Although the constitution recognizes religious freedom in Article 33, it clearly refers to Sharia law, which categorically prohibits conversion to another faith, thereby meaning the country’s ban on such conversion!
The lack of official statistics makes it difficult to determine the number of religious minorities in Somaliland. The majority of Sunni Muslims in Somaliland ignore minority religious groups and beliefs, including Christians, atheists and even Shia Muslims. In recent years, the number of atheists and people with secular beliefs has increased among Somalis, with Somaliland potentially home to a significant portion of this population. One source estimates there are around 1.2 million Somali atheists engaged on social media. In 2019, a Somaliland university professor was arrested for questioning the effectiveness of praying to God as a cure for drought in a Facebook post.
Concerning Christians, their precise number in Somaliland is also unknown at the moment. The Somali Bible Society says there are several thousand Christian adherents in Somaliland. Since 2020, the former Muse Bihi administration in Somaliland has carried out anti-Christian operations and arrested individuals accused of converting to Christianity. Authorities have apprehended countless Christians, including nationals from Somaliland and Ethiopia. In February 2021, authorities arrested me and others based on allegations of apostasy and promotion of Christianity, without providing evidence or due process, resulting in a prison sentence of six months. In 2022, Somaliland courts, located in Hargeisa, Gabiley and Berbera, convicted three people (two women and one man) and imposed prison sentences ranging from three to seven years for abandoning Islam. Even though the Somaliland government has released all those detained and accused of religious offenses due to international pressure, it has not changed its laws on freedom of religion or belief, exposing those who choose to renounce the Islam faces imprisonment and potential sanctions.
Similarly, Somaliland prohibits expatriates from publicly practicing their religion and building churches and places of worship. This does not mean that the government is opposed to the reopening of churches, since Somaliland allowed the Hargeisa Catholic Church to resume operations in 2017, but closed its doors shortly after protests against its reopening emerged . Prominent Islamists, such as Sh. Mohamed Omer Dirir justified his position on the closure of the church by referring to Muslim jurists who supported the destruction of ancient church structures in lieu of establishment and consecration news. As a result, Somaliland’s minister of religion at the time, Sh. Khalil said the government decided to permanently close the church due to considerable controversy. Jim Shannon, a member of the British Parliament, rightly challenged Gavin Williamson’s proposal to recognize Somaliland, arguing that “human rights guarantees and religious freedom must be at the heart of any agreement.”
In addition to imposing restrictions on religious freedom and punishing people who deviate from Islam, Somaliland has arrested a significant number of homosexuals in recent years, and many of them have been sentenced to long prison sentences. Section 409 of the Somali Penal Code, adopted by Somaliland, criminalizes same-sex relations and exposes people who identify as LGBT+ to societal shame and persecution. In prison, I met individuals incarcerated because of their sexual orientation. When I appeared in court as an accused, Abdi Qawdhan, then president of the Marodi Jeh Regional Court, told me that the court dealt with more serious cases related to homosexuality than those involving religious offenses and apostasy. Likewise, the Upper House of Somaliland (Senate) launched a speech to address the growing number of such cases, acknowledging the imprisonment of forty people at the time in Somaliland correctional facilities. This demonstrates that Somaliland’s persecution in these areas is irreconcilable with Western liberal democracies that defend individual rights, including LGBT+ rights.
In summary, while Islamist terrorists have ravaged Somalia’s conflict-ridden southern regions, Somaliland has achieved peace and relative stability, necessitating international recognition. Although Scott Perry’s bill and other policy suggestions advocating “statehood recognition for Somaliland” are laudable for their potential to help the United States advance its strategic interests in the region , it is also crucial for the United States to maintain a balance between its commitment to human and minority rights and its strategic and security priorities, with a primary focus on religious freedom. This implies that recognition of Somaliland could be contingent on the cessation of all human rights violations. Therefore, Somaliland must seriously address these human rights violations and ensure the release of those imprisoned for personal reasons that do not contravene laws intended to maintain public order. Newly elected President Abdirahman Irro and his administration should consider implementing policy changes to strengthen the protection of indivisible human rights while recognizing contextual and cultural limitations.
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