Somaliland and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) are two African territories currently engaged in a struggle against the recognised state from which they are attempting to secede – namely Somalia and Morocco. They are also campaigning for recognition as independent states by the broader international community. The African Union (AU) has been reluctant to shift its stance on not altering colonially inherited borders.
Unrecognised states are often unable to pursue their foreign policy objectives through traditional channels. Recent research demonstrates that de facto states could potentially make use of the internet and information communication technologies including social media platforms as a new avenue to bypass the restrictions they face on their traditional diplomatic channels, such as economic and diplomatic isolation, in addition to using digital diplomacy as a platform to assert their position on geopolitical issues.
The unexpected memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland announced in January 2024 has aggravated tensions in the Horn of Africa and returned Somaliland and its unrecognised status back into the spotlight. Conversely, the plight of the Sahrawi people has received little attention from the international community.
It is therefore timeous to reflect and take stock of ongoing struggles for international recognition on the African continent. This webinar will present findings from SAIIA’s research into the struggle for recognition, focusing on the cases of Somaliland and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, as well as the role digital diplomacy can play as a foreign policy tool for unrecognised states.
Explore the report:
Speakers
- Professor Redie Bereketeab Senior Researcher, Associate Professor and Nonresident Senior Fellow, Nordic Africa Institute & Middle East Council on Global Affairs
- Professor Carlson Anyangwe, Professor Emeritus
- Kendra Connock, Sessional Lecturer, University of Witwatersrand
- Isabel Bosman, Researcher, South African Institute of International Affairs
- Laura Rubidge, Researcher and Project Coordinator, South African Institute of International Affairs
Moderator
- Dr Michelle Small, Lecturer, University of Witwatersrand
We look forward to your attendance and participation.