Self-Determination and Secessionism in Somaliland and South Sudan

Self-Determination and Secessionism in Somaliland and South Sudan PDF Author: Redie Bereketeab
Publisher: Nordic Africa Institute
ISBN: 9789171067258
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 36

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Book Description
This paper analyses the notion of self-determination and secession by adopting a comparative perspective on two case studies, namely Somaliland and South Sudan. Somaliland declared its independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Somali state. Since then, Somaliland has been making relentless efforts to secure recognition from the international community. South Sudan successfully negotiated the right to exercise self-determination, a right that was formalised in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). The people of South Sudan held a referendum and voted overwhelmingly for secession, with formal independence being achieved on 9 July 2011. International law may better qualify Somaliland for statehood than South Sudan for three reasons: (i) it was created by colonialism, (ii) it has already been recognised, albeit only for a few days, as an independent state in 1960, and (iii) it has proven to be stable, functional and relatively democratic. Yet Somaliland has failed to achieve international recognition. This paper interrogates this discrepancy. It concludes that the existence of a partner ready to accept the right of self-determination, and geostrategic concerns about security as well as economic and political interests, determine international recognition.

Self-Determination and Secessionism in Somaliland and South Sudan

Self-Determination and Secessionism in Somaliland and South Sudan PDF Author: Redie Bereketeab
Publisher: Nordic Africa Institute
ISBN: 9789171067258
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 36

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Book Description
This paper analyses the notion of self-determination and secession by adopting a comparative perspective on two case studies, namely Somaliland and South Sudan. Somaliland declared its independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Somali state. Since then, Somaliland has been making relentless efforts to secure recognition from the international community. South Sudan successfully negotiated the right to exercise self-determination, a right that was formalised in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). The people of South Sudan held a referendum and voted overwhelmingly for secession, with formal independence being achieved on 9 July 2011. International law may better qualify Somaliland for statehood than South Sudan for three reasons: (i) it was created by colonialism, (ii) it has already been recognised, albeit only for a few days, as an independent state in 1960, and (iii) it has proven to be stable, functional and relatively democratic. Yet Somaliland has failed to achieve international recognition. This paper interrogates this discrepancy. It concludes that the existence of a partner ready to accept the right of self-determination, and geostrategic concerns about security as well as economic and political interests, determine international recognition.

Self-Determination and Secession in Africa

Self-Determination and Secession in Africa PDF Author: Redie Bereketeab
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317649699
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 296

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Book Description
This book provides a unique comparative study of the major secessionist and self-determination movements in post-colonial Africa, examining theory, international law, charters of the United Nations, and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)/African Union’s (AU) stance on the issue. The book explores whether self-determination and secessionism lead to peace, stability, development and democratisation in conflict-ridden societies, particularly looking at the outcomes in Eritrea and South Sudan. The book covers all the major attempts at self-determination and secession on the continent, extensively analysing the geo-political, economic, security and ideological factors that determine the outcome of the quest for self-determination and secession. It reveals the lack of inherent clarity in international law, social science theories, OAU/AU Charter, UN Charters and international conventions concerning the topic. This is a major contribution to the field and highly relevant for researchers and postgraduate students in African Studies, Development Studies, African Politics and History, and Anthropology.

Secession of Somaliland from Somalia. Conundrum to Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa

Secession of Somaliland from Somalia. Conundrum to Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa PDF Author: Ignatius Mabula
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3668540942
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 22

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Book Description
Seminar paper from the year 2007 in the subject Politics - Region: Africa, grade: Pass, , language: English, abstract: Failure to satisfy Somaliland’s desire for peace, security, stability and peaceful co-existence with Somalia which are the tenets of Westphalian statehood, resulted in the collapse of the ambitious project designed to merge Northern Somalia (Somaliland) and Southern Somalia (Somalia) into Republic of Somalia. Since the inception of the Republic, elites from Northern Somaliland complained about Southern Somalia’s dominance in governance where the national flag, national anthem, capital city, Presidency and Prime Minister’s position have been contributed by the Southerners. To rub salt into the wounds of the Northerners, Siad Barre assumed power by means of a coup and installed draconian, discriminative and oppressive laws against the Northern clans generally and the Isaac clan in particular. These appalling conditions experienced by the Northerners cajoled them to hold the bull by its horns and confront the situation. They formed the Somali National Movement (SMN) which protected the Northerners against Barre’s oppressive machinery. Subsequently Somaliland declared unilateral independence because it satisfied Article I of the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933) which explains that: [t]he State as a person of international law should possess: Permanent population; Defined territory; Government and Capacity to enter into foreign relations.

South Sudan Right of Self-determination and Establishment of New Sovereign State

South Sudan Right of Self-determination and Establishment of New Sovereign State PDF Author: Simon E. Kulusika
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Constitutional law
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description


Analysing the Practice of State Recognition as an Exclusionary Mechanism from the International Community of States

Analysing the Practice of State Recognition as an Exclusionary Mechanism from the International Community of States PDF Author: Brian Khisa
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 334697300X
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 48

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Book Description
Essay from the year 2022 in the subject Politics - Topic: Public International Law and Human Rights, , language: English, abstract: The law on statehood and state recognition is aptly captured in the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, 1933. The Convention lists the criterion for the achievement of Statehood, which includes the requirement of a permanent population, a well-defined territory, a stable government, and the ability to enter relations with other states. This article argues that despite entities satisfying the criteria of statehood under the Montevideo Convention, the issue of state recognition remains a major legal hurdle to be crossed towards the ultimate realization of a people’s right to self-determination. It is contended that to achieve statehood, state recognition must be granted by the international community of states and given the difficulty, the exercise of the right to self-determination has been greatly hindered therefore making the right to self-determination nothing more than empty rhetoric. The article begins by introducing the concept of state recognition and statehood before embarking on a critical analysis of the practice of state recognition and statehood. The article then shifts focus to the nexus between statehood and state recognition through the lenses of the right to self-determination and secession. The next part focuses on the effect of the non-recognition of entities as states and how it acts to the exclusion of admission of the entities that have duly qualified for statehood under the Montevideo Convention to the international community of states. By providing practical case studies on the practice of state recognition in respect of the states of Somaliland, South Sudan and Eritrea, the Article concludes that the criterion under the Montevideo Convention is grossly ignorant of the existing practice of state recognition, especially by failing to expressly address the legal existence of a state.

State Building and National Identity Reconstruction in the Horn of Africa

State Building and National Identity Reconstruction in the Horn of Africa PDF Author: Redie Bereketeab
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 331939892X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description
This book examines post-secession and post-transition state building in Somaliland, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. It explores two intimately linked, yet analytically distinct themes: state building and national identity reconstruction following secession and collapse. In Somaliland and South Sudan, rearranging the state requires a complete metamorphosis of state institutions so that they respond to the needs and interests of the people. In Sudan and Somalia, the reconfiguration of the remains of the state must address a new reality and demands on the ground. All four cases examined, although highly variable, involve conflict. Conflict defines the scope, depth and momentum of the state building and state reconstruction process. It also determines the contours and parameters of the projects to reconstitute national identity and rebuild a nation. Addressing the contested identity formation and its direct relation to state building would therefore go a long way in mitigating conflicts and state crisis.

Self-determination of Southern Sudan

Self-determination of Southern Sudan PDF Author: David Nailo N. Mayo
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Self-determination, National
Languages : en
Pages : 34

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Book Description


The role of internal self-determination in peace building and poverty in South Sudan

The role of internal self-determination in peace building and poverty in South Sudan PDF Author: Dr. John Chuol Muon (Ph.D.)
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3346734560
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 24

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Book Description
Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2021 in the subject Politics - Region: Africa, grade: A, Flinders University, language: English, abstract: Self-determination is a democratic political process in which citizens of a country determine their preferred form of statehood and government for their nation. The right to self-determination is a legal and political right for all people. Self-determination became prominent internationally during and after the First World War. It was also at the Centre of the international political agenda during the decolonisation period. From 1945 onwards, self-determination became an international principle after several international conventions defined the term and its use as a legal justification for creating new states in territories previously under colonial rule. The definition and implementation transformed the concept into a universally-recognised practice. Territories under colonial rule used this concept to seek independence, which led to the creation of more than eighty new states. The struggle of South Sudan for self-determination has a history longer than any other struggle in Africa. The struggle has roots in Sudan's pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial political events. Despite these roots, South Sudan sought secession due to fear of Northern domination and internal colonisation in post-independence Sudan and exclusion of Southerners from crucial constitutional discussions on Sudan's future based on the argument that the southerners did not have organised political parties. In seeking peace, South Sudan voted in the 2011 referendum to support internal self-determination by seceding from Sudan. Internal self-determination makes peacebuilding initiatives legitimate and sustainable. However, South Sudan experienced incidences of conflict after seceding from the North. The proposed research aims to determine the role that self-determination plays in peacebuilding initiatives and poverty in South Sudan.

Secessionism in African Politics

Secessionism in African Politics PDF Author: Lotje de Vries
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319902067
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 509

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Book Description
Secessionism perseveres as a complex political phenomenon in Africa, yet often a more in-depth analysis is overshadowed by the aspirational simplicity of pursuing a new state. Using historical and contemporary approaches, this edited volume offers the most exhaustive collection of empirical studies of African secessionism to date. The respected expert contributors put salient and lesser known cases into comparative perspective, covering Biafra, Katanga, Eritrea and South Sudan alongside Barotseland, Cabinda, and the Comoros, among others. Suggesting that African secessionism can be understood through the categories of aspiration, grievance, performance, and disenchantment, the book's analytical framework promises to be a building block for future studies of the topic.

Regional Politics and State Secession

Regional Politics and State Secession PDF Author: Nelson, Elizabeth A.
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN: 1839103779
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 200

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Book Description
While a number of movements seek state secession, the majority never achieves internationally recognized statehood. Paradoxically, some movements that have succeeded have had weaker claims to statehood than many movements that have failed. Regional Politics and State Secession seeks to explain the variation in outcomes for secessionist movements. Why do some movements succeed when so many fail?