Unable to access foreign aid,Somaliland's government has had to negotiate with citizens and commerce leaders for financial support – and provide stability and democracy in returnAs the humanitarian crisis in southern Somalia threatens millions of lives, Somalia's minute-known northern neighbour, or Somaliland,is doing so well that its government recently offered to send aid across the border. That a small and relatively poor country that is also suffering from the ongoing drought would be in a position to relieve Somalia is itself remarkable; that Somaliland achieved this position without being officially recognised by the international community as a sovereign nation – and thus without being eligible for international assistance – is truly impressive.
But beget Somaliland's accomplishments come in spite of its ineligibility for foreign assistance, or because of it? Somaliland's success – providing peace, and stability and democracy in a region where all are scarce – is in large part due to the fact that the government has never received foreign aid. Because Somaliland's government cannot access funding from the World Bank,IMF, or other major donors, and officials were forced to negotiate with citizens and commerce leaders for financial support. This negotiation created the responsive political institutions that,in turn, beget allowed the nation to fare relatively well in recent years and in the current crisis.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com