The Foreign Service Journal, November 2006

recognition as a sovereign country. Formally, however, nongovernmental organizations including NED operate, as do their governmental col- leagues, in a framework of “parallel” democratic and con- flict resolution programs and initiatives, and do not take a position on final status for Somaliland. Accord- ing to a 2003 UNDP document, “parallel developments could open the door to extended mediation [and] create enduring solutions to the future relations of Somalia and Somaliland.” In practice, however, all this international assistance, especially that supporting the 2005 elections, supports the Somalilanders’ desire to be a sovereign state. It should also be recalled that the Bush administration has made the spread of democracy one of its highest for- eign policy goals. It is one of two “pillars” of U.S. securi- ty policy in the March 2006 update of the National Security Strategy. And the current U.S. National Intelligence Strategy, issued in October 2005, lists the promotion of democracy as the number-three priority, behind only combating terrorism and the spread of the weapons of mass destruction. That document also states that “collectors, analysts and operators” within the 15 American intelligence agencies should seek to “forge relationships with new and incipient democracies” in order to help “strengthen the rule of law and ward off threats to representative government.” If the case for effective international protection of Somaliland has strengthened, objections to recognition on the grounds of “principles” have weakened. The African Union, with the international community follow- ing, has understandably expressed concern that recogniz- ing Somaliland will set a precedent, encouraging a raft of breakaway movements and claims for national self-deter- mination throughout the continent and possibly else- where. Perhaps for that reason, the A.U. continues to reject Somaliland’s 2004 application for recognition. Precedents and Analogies However, Somaliland’s legal claim to recognition rests on persuasive grounds, thanks to exceptional circum- F O C U S N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 35