It is not all trouble spots and sad stories that we will feature on our blog, but also success stories and uplifting news. Here is one for our research.
Geoff Hill, an African correspondent for the Washington Times, wrote to us pointing out that it is "very
important to differentiate between a trouble spot like Somalia and neighbouring Somaliland, which is one of Africa's success stories."
“Somaliland is indeed a gem,” he wrote. In 1960, the protectorate of British Somaliland was granted independence, and fused with Italian Somaliland which has also been granted independence as Somalia. This was an unhappy marriage from the start and deteriorated into a one-party dictatorship run from Mogadishu. In 1989, the British bit declared itself free as the Republic of Somaliland, held democratic elections and established a free press. “I have been there several times and you don't even see a gun. In the rest of the old union - Somalia - you can't move 10 miles without a teenager waving an AK in your face,” says Geoff.
The pink bit on the map shows Somaliland. The long country to the east and south is what remains of Somalia.
Geoff Hill has written two major books on Zimbabwe:
The Battle for Zimbabwe [2003 Zebra Press] and
What Happens After Mugabe? [2005].
It has been suggested that it might be a good idea for the African Goodwill Network to share information on seminal books and articles about Africa.
What do you think about the idea?
Please post your replies on our blog page right below this entry.
Geoff Hill, an African correspondent for the Washington Times, wrote to us pointing out that it is "very
important to differentiate between a trouble spot like Somalia and neighbouring Somaliland, which is one of Africa's success stories."
“Somaliland is indeed a gem,” he wrote. In 1960, the protectorate of British Somaliland was granted independence, and fused with Italian Somaliland which has also been granted independence as Somalia. This was an unhappy marriage from the start and deteriorated into a one-party dictatorship run from Mogadishu. In 1989, the British bit declared itself free as the Republic of Somaliland, held democratic elections and established a free press. “I have been there several times and you don't even see a gun. In the rest of the old union - Somalia - you can't move 10 miles without a teenager waving an AK in your face,” says Geoff.
The pink bit on the map shows Somaliland. The long country to the east and south is what remains of Somalia.
Geoff Hill has written two major books on Zimbabwe:
The Battle for Zimbabwe [2003 Zebra Press] and
What Happens After Mugabe? [2005].
It has been suggested that it might be a good idea for the African Goodwill Network to share information on seminal books and articles about Africa.
What do you think about the idea?
Please post your replies on our blog page right below this entry.
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