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23/06/2025 for immediate release
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Somaliland will launch a report to mark the 65th anniversary of Somaliland’s independence and call for the UK Government to recognise it as an independent nation.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), chaired by Sir Gavin Williamson, will formally launch its report on Thursday 26th June in the House of Commons. The APPG was formed with the goal of promoting an understanding of and support for Somaliland’s achievements in building peace, democratic governance and a sovereign state in the Horn of Africa. It is chaired by the Rt Hon Sir Gavin Williamson CBE MP, with Kim Johnson MP as co-chair, Abtisam Mohamed MP as vice chair and Lord Udny-Lister as an officer.
The APPG’s report, entitled “Roadmap to Recognition” argues that the UK should recognise Somaliland for economic, strategic, and moral reasons, and underlines Somaliland’s potential to be a key democratic partner in what is a volatile yet geopolitically significant region.
In particular, the report highlights the leading role the UK should play in recognising Somaliland, considering its deep historical ties with the country, the presence of a large Somaliland diaspora in the UK, and the UK’s role as UN penholder for Somalia.
The report also proposes the establishment of an “Independence Institution” to provide the government with independent and technical advice; ideas for and the development of government policy; and overarching implementation of government-agreed policy and initiatives.
Sir Gavin said: “In a world that is becoming more unpredictable and unstable, the United Kingdom needs all the friends and allies it can get. Somaliland has built a stable and democratic society against all the odds, and is a bastion of good governance in an otherwise volatile region.
Not only would recognising Somaliland grant the UK an immense strategic advantage in the Horn of Africa, but it would also open up new commercial opportunities and new markets. Moreover, recognising Somaliland’s efforts to promote democratic governance would send a strong signal to other developing nations.
Somaliland deserved recognition when it re-established its independence from Somalia in 1991. The next best time to recognise Somaliland is now.”
ENDS
