The Emerging New Cold War in the World will Present a Great Opportunity for the Republic of Somaliland
Introduction/Background
The recent bold foreign policy strides taken by Republic of Somaliland began when President Musa Bihi’s at the beginning of this year traveled to West Africa in a state visit to Guinea (Conakry), and Gambia. That visit triggered multiple international headlines and anger as well among our enemies. Moreover, the recent agreement between Somaliland and Taiwan to establish diplomatic relationship touched off major international headlines. The list of major news organization that talked about that bold move and historical breakthrough were NBC, ABC, Reuters, Associated Press, U.S. and World Report, Aljazeera, CNN, Ethiopian Newspapers, African, Taiwanese newspapers and websites. This relationship has put Somaliland in the international map. That amazing experience was followed by the visit of a high level Egyptian delegation to Somaliland that also has triggered major international headlines, and especially when rumors that Egypt was shopping for establishing a military base in the area have swirled. Then as soon as the Egyptian delegation has left Somaliland a high level Ethiopia has dispatched a high level to Somaliland. The latter controversy has a link to the bitter dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia regarding Ethiopia’s giant renaissance dam.
The emerging new Cold War between the U.S., China, Russia, Turkey and other is a great opportunity for Somaliland. Our strategic position in the world and our untapped resources are driving force the great attention to our neck of the woods. Taiwan Vs China, Ethiopia Vs Egypt competitions for influence over Somaliland could be called the first salvos of the emerging new cold War in the 21st century between the West and Russia/China. Apparently this new competition presented great opportunity for the Republic of Somaliland. The previous cold war has triggered the Korean, Vietnam, the Suez Canal war and other types of conflicts around the world. The division of Korea into North and South has something to do with the cold war between the US and the Soviet Union. The Chinese civil war of the 1940s of the last century; in part has something to do with the cold war, because when Mao Zedong came to power in 1949, the West at the time so dominant on world affairs refused to recognize the People’s Republic of China, and instead recognized the Republic of China modern Taiwan. Republic of China has given the Chinese seat of the United Nations until 1971. The Cold War competition has fueled independent movements in Africa and Asia. So-called World War 1 and World War 11 have severely impacted on European grip in Africa, Asia and Latin America, thus triggered the independence of many countries in Africa and Asia.
Prof. Suleiman Egeh is a freelance writer, a political analyst and a senior science instructor
