UK Mps Urge government to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state

The UK MPs have urged the government to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state and should respect the rights and freedom of Somalilanders to be a sovereign state. The transparent and fair elections of Somaliland were the most remarkable issues in debate on Somaliland’s recognition at the house of commons.

Gavin Williamson, a member of the UK’s House of Commons who tabled the case before the House said it’s the right time for the UK government to take the lead and recognise Somaliland as an independent state.

He said this is a country where the UK government needed help and had responded by sending their young men to defend British values and freedoms. Gavin Williamson believes the UK government should revisit its foeign policy regarding Somaliland’s recognition.

The UK government noted that it’s up to Somaliland and Somalia to decide their future relations -but- Rushanaara Ali opposed the government decision and made intervention stating that the UK government should not be asking Somaliland to seek approval from Somalia for its independence, drawing parallels between Bangladesh independence from Pakistan, and Britain’s role in supporting them to become an independent state.