Response to interpellation 2024/25:332 on Somaliland's independence
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerned Somaliland's independence and Sweden's position on recognition. M emphasizes that Sweden respects Somalia's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in accordance with international statutes 1 2 3. The government does not intend to recognize Somaliland as no other country has done so 1 3. M wants to continue the cooperation with all of Somalia, including Somaliland, to promote democracy and economic growth 1 2. SD argues that the government should pursue a more offensive line and recognize Somaliland, as it is a legitimate state with well-functioning institutions 4 5. SD claims that Somalia is a dysfunctional state and that Somaliland is a stable partner 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! [The member] has asked me if I and the government are taking any measures to support Somaliland's democracy and self-determination, and how I and the government are working to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Somaliland. Markus Wiechel has also asked me if it could be relevant for me and the government to follow the examples from countries such as USA, Taiwan and Ethiopia in their respective recognitions of Somaliland's independence.
As I have previously stated in response to Markus Wiechel's written questions, Sweden emphasizes the importance of respecting Somalia's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, in accordance with its constitution as well as the respective charters of the African Union and the United Nations. Sweden regards Somalia as a unity and thus acts in line with the EU and the rest of the international community. Sweden therefore has no intention of recognizing Somaliland. The Government further notes that no other country has recognized Somaliland.
The Government views with concern last year's increased tensions on the Horn of Africa, where the agreement between Ethiopia and the region of Somaliland in January 2024 was a contributing factor. Somalia's population has for decades been subjected to terrible suffering through violence and conflicts that have succeeded one another. The Government therefore hopes that the agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia in December 2024 will contribute positively to both the relationship between the two countries and to regional stability, trade, and solutions to common challenges.
For the government, it is central to continue strengthening the partnership and contact networks with all of Somalia, including Somaliland. Sweden has for a long time had a broad cooperation with Somalia through support for, among other things, peaceful and inclusive societies, democratic development, and economic growth. As previously stated, the support also reaches Somaliland. Sweden has, among other things, over time supported the implementation of general local elections as well as parliamentary and presidential elections in Somaliland. The government intends to also continue to support development within these areas and looks forward to continued close contact with all of Somalia.
Markus Wiechel (SD)
Madam Speaker! I would first like to thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs for the answer to the interpellation and emphasize that I often think the Minister for Foreign Affairs is correct. She does a very good job in her role.
This is an issue that I have championed for very many years. The reason I am highlighting it is that I believe the government can pursue a different and more offensive line.
If we start with the status of the recognition of Somaliland, Taiwan, as is known, has fully recognized Somaliland. Taiwan is one of the world's most prominent nations. It is not itself fully recognized. But I think that the vast majority can agree that it de facto is a separate state.
The USA is on its way to recognizing Somaliland. The newly elected president has announced his ambition to recognize Somaliland. Ethiopia has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, where they have promised to recognize Somaliland. Israel has expressed support for a recognition. In the United Kingdom, the debate over a recognition has flared up again and has been ongoing quite intensely. In addition, there are several states that have deepened their ties with Somaliland, including the United Arab Emirates.
There is a long line of countries going in that direction. I mean that it is very positive. What we see is that those who primarily support Somalia's illegitimate claims to have control over Somaliland are totalitarian villain regimes. We have China, Russia and so on. We thus see that dictatorships tend to support Somalia, and democracies support Somaliland.
Not least given the situation we find ourselves in today, where the world is increasingly divided into democracies and dictatorships, it is important that we support the good party in this. Somaliland is that. Free elections have been held since the beginning of the 90s. It has well-functioning institutions. It respects such things as are fundamental values for us but which in no way are the norm in this region of the world.
I mean that a recognition would benefit not only the region and those who live there but also benefit the Western world. We would get a strong and reliable partner in various contexts. We would also show that it pays to do the right thing, to have free choices, to respect minorities and so on.
We also have a large potential contribution to security and positive development in the region. When it does not have a recognition, it cannot, for example, take out loans to strengthen its economy or to promote trade cooperation, and it has difficulty carrying out necessary investments.
Furthermore, it already has, for example, a port today, Berbera Port, which is a very important part of the African infrastructure that we could benefit from.
Furthermore, it is important that we follow the will of the people. The people in Somaliland are very clear about what they think and feel. They want to be independent.
The fact is that they need our support in the fight against terrorism, oppression and so on. The country that deals with terrorism and oppression is Somalia, whose government consists to some extent of persons who have previously been terrorists.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! Sweden has a long-standing commitment in Somalia, which also includes Somaliland as I said initially. We have a large Somali diaspora in Sweden and many Swedes of Somali origin in Somalia, extensive aid and political engagement. This has contributed to strong inter-people ties and also a Swedish agency.
Sweden contributes to the EU's efforts in Somalia within the framework of the EU's foreign and security policy as well as our development cooperation. The focus of our efforts is and has been to support Somalia's work with, among other things, state-building, democratization, increased security, adaptation to climate change, inclusive economic growth, and equality.
All of this is important to promote peace, stability, and improved living conditions. The support will, of course, also reach Somaliland through the strategy for development cooperation with Somalia and the humanitarian aid. Sweden's ambassador to Somalia travels regularly to different parts of the country, including Somaliland.
The Government intends to continue contributing to a stable and sustainable peace and state-building process throughout Somalia. The completion of the constitution is an important foundation for creating better conditions to manage current challenges.
It is not least about clarifying the relationship between the federal government and the federal member states, including the relationship to Somaliland. It is therefore also an important platform for national reconciliation. It is of central importance that the process is characterized by dialogue and inclusion and that all regions in Somalia participate.
The Government welcomes the democratic development in Somaliland and also other positive steps, including that they are developing society's institutions and promoting economic development and trade. The challenges are, however, still many, and reconciliation is completely central.
Sweden emphasizes, in line with among others the EU, the importance of respecting Somalia's cohesion, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. When it comes to the recognition of states, Sweden applies, as is well known, the so-called principle of universality. This means that we in principle recognize those states that fulfill the international law criteria for statehood.
Markus Wiechel (SD)
Madam Speaker! Somaliland is indeed a unique and special example globally. Somaliland's claim to independence is actually legitimate given that the union formed once upon a time was never ratified. Purely legally, there is nothing one can go back to in order to claim that Somalia includes the region of Somaliland. Even the African Union, which primarily consists of dictators who do not actually want to split what is today called Somalia, recognized in connection with a fact-finding mission in 2005 that Somaliland's claim to independence is unique and legitimate because the agreement was not ratified.
On 26 June 1960, a treaty was signed at the UN regarding Somaliland's borders and independence. I firmly maintain, as the African Union did in connection with the fact-finding mission I just mentioned, that this treaty still applies. Somaliland is neither a breakaway state nor a rebel group, but is actually a legitimate state both historically and from a legal perspective.
It may be worth looking at why Somaliland and Somalia, which were once a British and an Italian colony respectively, did not become a unified state. It was about how the dictator in Somalia treated the people in Somaliland. Genocide was committed and extensive oppression was exercised against Somaliland. To support Somalia's claims on Somaliland today is like supporting a rapist who assaults a rape victim. I mean that it is completely horrific to do such a thing.
I have respect for the fact that people are trying to follow other countries. Now, however, we see that several countries are about to do the right thing, that is, recognize this well-functioning state's right to self-determination and follow the will of the people in the region instead of following criminals whose governments, as I mentioned earlier, partly consist of individuals who have either belonged to terrorist groups or have clear links to terrorist groups.
Last but not least: I think it is important that we think about building a strong future for this entire region. Then we must ensure that one can make investments and hold free elections, which I know the Foreign Minister also safeguards. However, there is only one part of the region that successfully deals with this, and that is Somaliland. Puntland, which is located in northern Somalia, is to some extent on the right track, but even there are major problems. Somaliland has, after all, succeeded with this.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! The Horn of Africa has been affected by several destabilizing events during the past year. Violent conflicts, protracted political transitions, faltering state-building processes, drought, poverty, and so on have had devastating consequences for the civilian population. Somalia is one example. The civil war in Sudan, with a catastrophic humanitarian situation, is another.
The various crises in the Horn of Africa are often cross-border in nature and have regional effects. In addition to having consequences for democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human civil and civil rights, war and conflicts both within and outside our immediate vicinity also affect the security and prosperity for us in Sweden. War and conflicts affect international trade and freedom of navigation and provide a breeding ground for crime, terrorism, violent extremism, and unregulated migration.
Further crises and conflicts would therefore not favor the work for peace and stability either in Somalia or regionally on the Horn of Africa. Both the UN as well as the AU and the EU have expressed concern over the increased tensions resulting from the memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland and have expressed support for Somalia's territorial integrity.
My hope is that the Ankara Agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia from December 2024 contributes to stability and mutual benefit through the countries' commitments and respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity. I note that both countries most recently in January stated that strong cooperation between them is a prerequisite for regional stability and that they shall work to strengthen regional relations.
I note once again that no other country has yet recognized Somaliland, so Sweden is in no way standing out here – rather, the opposite is true.
Markus Wiechel (SD)
Madam Speaker! It is true that none of the UN-recognized countries have yet recognized Somaliland, even though it is in progress. In this case, I perhaps had a hope that Sweden would stand out, not least considering the large diaspora of Somalilanders living in Sweden.
I want to return to what the minister was touching upon in his post regarding turbulence and conflicts. The problem is that it is Somalia – not Somaliland – that accounts for the turbulence and conflicts. It is in Somaliland that we find security and stability. Somaliland is a stable and reliable partner in practically all areas of society. I can recommend that the Foreign Minister contact the Somaliland government. I have had many contacts with them; they are easy to deal with and truly want to cooperate.
Somalia, on the other hand, is a dysfunctional state. It even lacks control over its own territory, and the government consists to some extent of former terrorists or persons with terrorist connections.
It is very strange to try to build security and stability and try to have some form of dialogue – however that works – with the party that is the problem. I mean that one should go to Somaliland, which is actually willing to help.
I would like to conclude by thanking the Minister very much for the debate.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! In conclusion, I wanted to highlight the value of bilateral cooperation, which Markus Wiechel also raised.
Swedish aid policy is, as is known, undergoing the most significant changes in several decades. An important part is to better take advantage of the synergies between aid, promotion, and trade policy. Through new forms of cooperation, there is the potential to mobilize additional economic resources in the work for a better and more stable world.
With this orientation, the government also wants to contribute to more people escaping poverty and to promoting broader relations with Sweden's partner countries beyond aid. The many and long-standing Swedish-Somali contact points, including with Somaliland, provide a very good foundation for continuing these bilateral collaborations. We shall take advantage of that.
I also want to thank you for the debate.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.