The Establishment of Somaliland Diaspora Recognition Committees has started in key European countries which hosts majority of Somaliland Diaspora population in Europe. Chairman of Somaliland Diaspora Agency (SLDA), Mr. Abdi Abdillahi Hersi has been on trip since late February in order to ensure successful formation of these committees in cooperation with the existing committees and the different community groups of the Diaspora while consultative meetings were held for the selection of the committee members in each country.
In this tour, so far Somaliland Diaspora Recognition Committees are established in Holland, Belgium, France, Sweden, Finland and Norway while Germany, Denmark and other countries in Europe are underway.
In all the meetings held, SLDA Chairman raised awareness and advised the Diaspora communities to strengthen their unity, cooperation and the collective action in contribution to their interests and their role towards their country of origin, Somaliland. Creating of such committees is part of the public diplomacy in the foreign policy and recognition seeking strategy of the state, Republic of Somaliland while the first committee was formed in UK where the most population of Somaliland population live in January, 2016.
On the other hand, SLDA Chairman took this opportunity of his trip to hold meetings with key institutions of the hosting countries including MPs. The chairman accompanied with Somaliland Representative in Sweden, Ms Roda Jama Elmi and members of the community committee had a meeting with members from the Left Party of the Sweden Government. The key issues they discussed included in the severe droughts in Somaliland and the necessary humanitarian aid required to response and the role Sweden can take both as individual country and EU member state
Somaliland has a lot active and resourceful Diaspora population around the world and Somaliland government is endeavouring to more actively engage the Diaspora in the national development including the recognition campaign in implementation of the vivid foreign policy and public diplomacy strategies.
Source: Somaliland Diaspora Agency
Hargeisa, Somaliland
7th March 2016
