Tuesday 15 June 2010

SOMALILAND - THE COUNTRY THAT ISN'T! - The South African Institute of International Affairs

The South African Institute of International Affairs
South Africa’s Window on the World


THE WITWATERSRAND BRANCH

Cordially invites you to a Speaker's Meeting to be addressed by

MIKE JOHNSTONE

on

SOMALILAND - THE COUNTRY THAT ISN'T!

Mike Johnstone, runs a Johannesburg-based specialist travel company, Ubuntu Safaris, travels extensively in Africa, is a regular visitor to Somaliland, and for all intents and purposes has become an expert on the subject. He will touch on the country's long history and Islamic tradition and outline the developments that led to it breaking away from war-ravaged Somalia in the south 14 years ago. Somaliland currently has its own president, parliament, currency, flag, passport and universities, but officially does not exist. It's remembered as the African country with the briefest independence - five days between its independence from Britain in 1960 to its 'union' with Somalia in what came to be known as Somalia. The 'union', however, proved a disaster and collapsed in 1990. Somalia, meanwhile, was hit by severe drought and widespread starvation, compounded by chaotic political conditions and warring armed factions. An estimated 50 000 people were killed in the years 1988 to 1990, followed by a further 300 000 during 1991 and 1992. Hundreds of thousands also fled to Ethiopia. In contrast today, Somaliland boasts law and order and a potential to survive; Somalia, still retaining the name of 'Somalia', limps along as a stateless and increasingly dismembered society. Several Somaliland students, incidentally, attend South African universities.


Date:
Tuesday 24th February, 2004

Time:
17h30 for 17h45 to conclude at 19h00

Venue:
Jan Smuts House, East Campus, Wits University

RSVP:
Mrs Katy de Villiers



Tel: (011) 339 2021



Fax: (011) 339 2154



Email: devilliersk@saiia.wits.ac.za

Should you have friends or colleagues who may be interested in joining the Branch, consider inviting them to the aforementioned meeting.

LEON KOK
ChairmaN

SIRAG ARCHIVE

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