President Ahmed Siilanyo Accepts An Invite to South Sudan’s Independence Ceremony
HARGEISA (SomalilandPress)—President Ahmed Siilaanyo received an official invitation from the president of South Sudan Salva Kiir to attend the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of South Sudan on the 9th of July, 2011. South Sudan is set to become the 54th nation in the African continent after long fought civil against Northern Sudan’s rule that saw thousands of lives lost and millions displaced.
The invitation of Somaliland’s president Ahmed Siilanyo to South Sudan’s historic day has been welcomed with delight in Somaliland by both the government of Somaliland and its citizens. Somaliland believes it could use the south’s independence as a precedent as it seeks more support for its case for international recognition and become the 55th nation in the continent after South Sudan. Some foreign observers and politicians believe the Juba government will recognize Somaliland which will pave the way for other regional powers to follow.
Somaliland became a British protectorate in 1888 after the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 during which the European Powers effectively carved up the African continent between themselves. It was in June 26th 1960 upon an agreement signed between Britain and Somaliland that it became an independent country. At that time Somaliland was formerly recognized as the Republic of Somaliland by the UN and 35 countries, including Britain, USA, Israel and Egypt. Somaliland willingly decided to unite with South Somalia formerly Italian Somalia on July 1st, 1960 when the South gained their sovereignty from Italia. Somaliland however reclaimed its Sovereignty in 1991 after the overthrow of former dictator Mohamed Siyad Bare and his henchmen after a long brutal civil war.
Source:SomalilandPress
