SOMALILAND> '' INSIDE SOMALIA STOMACH''

[Ina-Geel_Wase]

According to Somaliland’s minister of information, Somalilanders have moved beyond the need for recognition: “We are not going to say recognize us or else. It’s the business of a nation to recognize or not recognize. But as far as we are concerned, we recognize ourselves. We haven’t been doing all these good things -- democratization, nation building, decency, civility -- just to appease others! We’ve got a vested interest in that matter and, if in my gener peace. Then the whole world will come to us and recognize us!”

''In a private setting, he sounded less convinced, lamenting that no country would recognize Somaliland’s independence until the new Somalia does. “Since we united with Somalia,” he said, “we were swallowed by the Somali people. We cry inside the Somali stomach, ‘Oh, we are Somalilanders!’ But we are still inside their stomach.”