Associate Professor Bizuwork Beyene Bayisa launched his new legal and geopolitical study, titled “Recognition of States and Insurgents: The Case of Somaliland,” during a ceremony at the Haggir Fikir Theatre in Addis Ababa on 22 August 2026.
The launch brought together academic peers, former students, distinguished guests, and the secretary of the Somaliland Embassy in Ethiopia. Comprising three main sections across 104 pages, the publication serves as an academic resource for scholars, policy experts, and international relations students, particularly those specializing in international trade law and Horn of Africa affairs.
The book explores statehood criteria under international law, examining how Somaliland compares to established international standards while analyzing shifting regional dynamics near the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Associate Professor Bizuwork highlights the nuanced history of diplomatic engagement in the region, noting that while many Western and European nations maintain a cautious stance toward formal recognition, nations like Ethiopia and Israel have fostered distinct diplomatic and economic ties with Somaliland over time.
Addressing why Somaliland’s official statehood recognition remains delayed, the author relies on a comparative legal analysis with Eritrea’s 1993 independence. The study attributes the main obstacles facing Somaliland to foundational principles of international governance, specifically the African Union’s 1964 Cairo declaration on border inviolability and the United Nations’ emphasis on Somalia’s territorial integrity. Major multilateral bodies continue to maintain that any permanent resolution must emerge through formal negotiations between Mogadishu and Hargeisa to prevent wider regional instability.
The comparative breakdown in the text underscores fundamental procedural differences between the two cases. Eritrea achieved internationally recognized statehood following a formal political agreement with Ethiopia’s central government, backed by a monitored referendum. In contrast, Somaliland’s 1991 declaration to dissolve its 1960 voluntary union with former Italian Somaliland remains a unilateral move without a bilateral accord from Mogadishu, keeping it framed as an internal matter under international law despite decades of functional self-governance.
Despite lacking universal diplomatic recognition, Somaliland has maintained relative internal stability, democratic elections, its own police force, and a independent currency for over three decades. Associate Professor Bizuwork expressed his hope that scholarly work and objective legal analysis will contribute to constructive dialogue, helping international stakeholders navigate long-term, peaceful diplomatic solutions for the region.