New York City – Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza
23 September 2026 will be remembered as a significant day in the political history of Somaliland. Today, thousands of people originally from Somaliland, including citizens holding different nationalities, gathered at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, in front of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, peacefully expressing the aspirations of the people of Somaliland for international recognition.
The event has particular significance because it took place at a time when world leaders were gathered in New York, while the President of Somaliland, H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro), together with members of his government, were also present in the city.
The message of the Somaliland community today was clear: the Somaliland question must be assessed on the basis of its history, its political reality, the will of its people, and the reality of the institutions that it has built over many years.
The History Of 1960
Somaliland gained independence from the British Empire on 26 June 1960, becoming the independent State of Somaliland. Historical accounts indicate that during its brief period as an independent state, Somaliland received diplomatic recognition from a significant number of countries, commonly reported as 35 countries, which Isreal Government was first out of that countries, including five member of UN Security countries and other important states.
On 1 July 1960, Somaliland and the former Italian-administered territory of Somalia entered into a political union that created the Somali Republic.
However, the legal form of that union, the manner in which it was approved, and the way in which the agreements between the two sides were incorporated into national law have remained matters of legal and historical debate.
Consequently, when Somaliland presents its case today, it argues that its situation should not simply be understood as a conventional “secession” from an existing state. Somaliland maintains that its case has a distinct historical background involving two territories that had previously existed under separate colonial administrations and entered into a political union in 1960.
The 2005 African Union Fact-Finding Mission
One of the most important elements of Somaliland’s case is the African Union Fact-Finding Mission, which visited Somaliland from 30 April to 4 May 2005. The mission was led by Patrick Mazimhaka, then Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
The mission’s report stated that the union between Somaliland and Somalia had not been fully ratified by both sides and that the union had experienced serious difficulties in practice during the period from 1960 to 1990.
The report notably described Somaliland’s situation as “historically unique and self-justified in African political history.” It also recommended that the African Union develop a “special method” for addressing the Somaliland question.
This is an important point that the international community should seriously consider.
The AU Fact-Finding Mission did not constitute a formal decision granting Somaliland international recognition. However, it demonstrated that an official African institution had identified the Somaliland case as possessing characteristics that distinguish it from many other territorial and political disputes on the African continent.
Somaliland And Democracy
Today, Somaliland has governmental institutions, a constitution, a parliament, an electoral system, and security institutions that it administers independently. The territory has conducted several competitive elections, and the people of Somaliland have repeatedly participated in its political processes.
Therefore, Somaliland’s argument is based on two interconnected elements:
Somaliland’s history of independence in 1960, and
the political reality established when Somaliland reasserted its independence on 18 May 1991.
Somaliland considers the 1991 declaration to be the restoration of its previous statehood, while the Federal Government of Somalia continues to maintain its position regarding the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia.
These positions are both part of the documented political debate. However, the people of Somaliland continue to express their political position through their institutions, elections, and public mobilization.
Today’s Message From New York
It is important that the governments and member states of the United Nations seriously listen to the people who gathered today near the United Nations Headquarters.
The President of Somaliland and the people of Somaliland have the right to present their historical, legal, and political arguments to the international community.
The question today is not only what happened in 1960. It is also how the international community assesses the political reality of Somaliland today, the aspirations of its people, and the outcome of decades during which Somaliland has developed its own institutions.
23 September 2026 is a day on which thousands of Somalilanders demonstrated in New York that the Somaliland question is not an issue confined to Hargeisa or the Horn of Africa; it is an issue that they want to see seriously discussed at the international level.
Their message was simple:
“Let Somaliland be assessed on the basis of its history, the will of its people, and the political reality that exists today.”
History will record that on this day, near the headquarters of the United Nations in New York City, thousands of people raised their voices to express their aspiration for Somaliland and their desire for the international community to seriously listen to and assess its case.
Somaliland has a history.
Somaliland has a people.
Somaliland has institutions.
Somaliland has a political aspiration.
The question now before the international community is:
How can this question be addressed through a political and diplomatic process based on facts, justice, and respect for the aspirations of the people concerned?
Engineer Abdi Ali Barkhad is Ethiopian, has also become known as a political analyst and writer on the Horn of Africa, particularly on Somaliland, Somalia, Ethiopia, regional geopolitics, diplomacy, and international relations. His author profile describes him as a senior consultant who has studied international diplomacy. He can be reached via email : tra50526@gmail.com
Editor’s Note: Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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