African borders are a complex tapestry reflecting a rich mosaic of ethnic groups and cultures that span multiple nations. In the 1960s, insurgencies were ignited in Kenya and Ethiopia, with Somalia asserting claims over Somali-inhabited regions, and later on in 1977, Somalia directly waged war on Ethiopia in an attempt to seize the Somali region of Ethiopia by force. Despite the African Union’s principle to respect colonial borders, Somali elites never cease to advocate the regaining of these perceived “missing territories”. To mitigate Somali irredentism, official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign and independent nation emerges as a pivotal solution. In light of the recent MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland, Ethiopia will become the first country to officially recognise the Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign nation.
