Your recent digest focusing on Somalia was a disappointment, to say the least, to someone who has spent much of the last few years working in Somaliland, which comprises roughly one-third of the territory and people of the internationally recognised state of Somalia. It is extraordinary how so much attention is focused on the very real difficulties and disasters of South-Central Somalia, without any acknowledgement of the equally real achievements of Somaliland from a similar start point. In no particular order, it has established a largely inclusive hybrid model of government, established peace across most of the country and held several genuine elections (the most recent including the use of iris scanning and the first televised debated between Presidential candidates in Africa). With respect to SSR, former militias have been combined into one Army which is under civil control (despite an ineffective MOD), well respected and does not commit abuses. Despite massive problems, including poverty, development, drought, education and employment, these and other achievements have brought Somaliland far closer to what the International Community might desire for South-Central, despite it having had far less support. This ought to be acknowledged more widely - even if it prompts the question as to whether the lack of external support has contributed to Somaliland's progress.
